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I see the same moment Nolan comes to the same realization; we are wasting time sitting here. Helping a dusty Nol to his feet, I give him a firm kiss on the lips that serves to remind me he is still here and safe.
Amiri coughs behind us from where he's standing with his brother, keeping watch. Breaking our embrace, I turn to them, ready to continue our own search since the detectives ran off at the first opportunity to catch Kyle.
A helicopter flying over the forest draws my attention as it glides around in the distance. Damn, I didn't realize Smith had called that in. I suppose when we found the car, it was all hands-on deck. Things have been moving really fucking fast since then...too fast in Nolan's case.
Shaking out my jittery hands, I take a deep breath hoping to center myself so we can continue our search. "What now?"
Amiri sighs and hangs his head, the stress a heavy weight on his broad shoulders. Glancing at Nolan beside me, I notice him frowning off into the woods he bolted out of. And Korren...his narrowed gaze is locked onto the cliff's edge like it's a puzzle to solve.
Glancing behind me, I don't know what has his attention like that. Maybe he's just thinking. Still, nobody responds.
"Guys?"
Mir snaps out of whatever thought he was lost in. "I don't know. Maybe find where her trail goes from here. Smith and his partner are busy with Kyle, so it's up to us." A touch of bitterness lines his words. I can't blame him, though, they really did fucking ditch us and her trail.
"Yeah, okay," Nolan murmurs while pushing his damp curls out of his face and cleaning up his lenses.
Nobody moves. Frowning at all of them, I make my way back to where we popped out and onto the cliffside. Seeing the path clear as day after we all trampled over her footsteps, I have no idea where she would have gone from here. Making my way across the tree line, I don't see the start of a new trail anywhere.
On my short walk back, my eyes catch on Korren walking toward the edge. His steps are hesitant and slow; almost like he's in a trance. My heart speeds up at the image of this grown, scary man, trembling while he reluctantly moves to the drop-off.
"What are you doing?" Amiri picks up on the same eerie scene in front of him, his own voice wavering slightly. Only the scuff of Kor's shoes can be heard between the four of us. "Korren!" Mir barks, unable to hold on to his impatience and concern any longer.
He stops a few paces away from the edge but doesn't turn around when he responds, his voice like gravel, "If she ran through there like Nolan, without someone to stop her, she would have-"
No.
"No. She would have seen it. Ryan, tell him." Nolan looks at me with wide pleading eyes, intent on ripping my soul out, stomping on it, and shredding it to ribbons.
I can't tell him. I can't because...a sob strangles the air from my throat...because he's right. Korren's right. Had she been running for her life, out of her mind with fear, she wouldn't have noticed the cliff a few yards off the tree line until it was too late.
"Ryan, tell him he's wrong!" Nol has tears running down his cheeks as he fucking begs me to set his worries at peace.
I say nothing, too lost in the swirling inferno of guilt and horror. Because...Korren is right. Eve might be at the bottom of this cliff.
Dead.
Chapter 13
Evelyn
"Evie!"
Smirking at the ball of energy flying down the banister, I pop another grape in my mouth. Ryan bounds up to me in a way that begs for a puppy joke, but I'll be nice and wait to see what has him so worked up first.
Sucking in deep breaths, his chest flexes beneath his shirt...just a little more, maybe it will rip. The fluid leaking from my mouth is definitely grape juice, not drool. I raise an eyebrow at him when he doubles over, panting for air.
"Dude, spit it out. Like a good boy." Amiri tacks the dog joke on at the end, causing me to choke on the grape. Taking a sip of water, I whack him in the arm and attempt a stern glare. He smirks at me, effectively making me lose my battle at faking disappointment.
"Hush, you." I turn back to Ryan, who has his fist over his heart like Mir physically hurt him with the words. "What's going on, Ry?" I smile at him, hoping to divert his attention from their inevitable play fight.
It works. He shoots me a blinding smile and sweeps in to give me a gentle kiss with his hands wrapped around my waist. I melt into his touch, enjoying the way his energy encompasses me.
"Hi," he whispers in my ear before leaning back. "I was thinking after the trials in a few days, we could go shopping for Christmas decorations!"
Just like that, my tummy swoops and jitters with excitement and warmth. I hadn't thought much about the upcoming holiday, especially with the shit show that was Thanksgiving. Yet, I'm finding myself absolutely ecstatic and emotional at the prospect of celebrating with my family.
So many years I spent imagining what it would be like to spend Christmas with my loved ones. Waking up early with restless excitement, eating a warm breakfast, drinking coffee by the fire, wrapped in a blanket surrounded by love and happiness.
