“That can’t be right,” Zeke whispers, voicing what we’re all thinking.
We use the flashlights on our slates to check the rest of the boxes, but all nine of them are empty or filled with hay.
How fucking naive can we be that we thought everything would be here, as if we weren’t taking the word of a murdering criminal? I can’t believe we’ve been this foolish. Was this entire thing just a ploy to keep us distracted and focused on something else?
The guys are arguing in hushed tones when my ears pick up a sound, but with the four of us in this dark barn, it takes me a moment to figure out that it’s not coming from either of us.
“Did you hear that?”
Immediately, all three of them go quiet. Listening.
The noise I heard before comes again, this time followed by the unmistakable sound of someone’s voice. Dread pools in my stomach as another voice speaks over the first one, and with each word, it sounds like they’re getting closer. In my panic, I can’t make out what they’re saying, but they don’t sound too thrilled.
What the hell are we going to do?
I look at my friends, hoping they’ll have a plan, but the expressions on their faces tell me all I need to know. We’re about to get caught and boy, are we fucking screwed.
“How many times do I have to tell you to latch this door? For demon’s sake. I ask very little of you, and the least you can do is your fucking job,” an unfamiliar voice says, in a deep, polished timber.
Hide!Theo shouts through our bond and snaps me into action.
I dart behind the nearest crate and turn the flashlight off on my slate just as the barn door slides open. There’s a shuffling as one, two, three, fuck, maybe more visitors enter the building.
I look around me, unable to make out my friends until I spot a slight glow near the back. Shit! Whoever that is must not have been able to get the light turned off in time, so they just hid it inside their sweater. This is all too damn risky.
The deep, glossy voice comes again. “And as for your whining, I don’t give a human’s ass whether you like working with me or not, as long as you hold up your end of the bargain.”
“Yes, Boss,” someone else replies, sounding way too close for my comfort, but my ears perk up anyway at the mention of a boss. I wonder if Zeke picked up on it, too. Could this be who Roderick reports to?
Is everyone hidden?Raphael asks through the bond, and we all agree telepathically.
Did anyone happen to check the back door?Zeke’s husky voice echoes through my head with what could possibly be the best question in the history of questions.
Unfortunately, we were all too preoccupied with searching the crates. We never even considered checking the door. How the hell are we going to get out of this one?
Can anyone see without getting caught? I’d love to know who this apparent boss is.I push my question through the bond, hoping for at least a better answer than the last one.
As the guys answer, telling me we’re shit out of luck on that front, the boss man says, “You three go get a room presentable for our next guest.”
Next guest?Theo’s question burns through my mind, fear settling in my gut. They don’t mean us, do they?
A commotion starts from somewhere outside, and it almost sounds like they might be having a fucking party or something. What the hell is going on here?
A prickle of awareness slides down my spine, and I turn, searching through the darkness. I spot the little patch of light beneath fabric and realize that whoever it is looks to be moving.
What are you doing?I ask, not even sure who I’m referring to at this point.
It’s Zeke that replies as he moves again.As long as this noise keeps up, I can make it to the door and stay partially behind these crates. It might be our best chance to escape.
Fucking hell, Raphael replies, annoyance clear even through our bond. I can’t exactly blame him. If Zeke’s plan goes sideways, we’re all screwed. But we will be anyway if we don’t find a way out of here.
Watch your light. I can see it through your sweater, I tell him.
Got it, hummingbird. Thanks.
“So. How many have you procured so far?” the strong voice of the boss asks.
“Enough,” someone replies, and I’m left hoping they’ll divulge what exactly it is they’re collecting.
