Chapter 1 || Quoth the Raven “Nevermind” (8)

The car pulled up into the driveway with a screech. 

“Damn Cap, stop abusing the car,” said Alyssa.

“It’s too slow, it deserves it,” said Cap.

Just on time, Elowen came running down the street towards them. “We scouted the entire area, Hosea couldn’t find anything. What about your end?”

“Nope. Nothing in the Afterdark either,” said Cap. 

They quickly approached the house, hoping against hope that everything would have worked itself out. As soon as they opened the door, however, they were greeted not by a solution, but by a gun pointed at them.

“Welcome back,” said the manager. “You can all go out in one fell swoop.”

“Uhm,” said Alyssa.

“What have you done with Rowan?” demanded Elowen.

“You can ask him yourself, when you see him,” said the manager. “Tell him I said hello.”

—

“Cutting it a bit fine there,” said Cap.

“Oh for goodness’ sake,” Elowen exploded. “Is it too much to ask you boys to not knock people out?”

Rowan folded his arms defensively. “Oh wow, everyone’s a critic. He had a gun, ok? Anyway, there’s no time to waste. I think I know where Lexi Lilly might have gone.”

“Where?”

Rowan pointed to the manager. “He mentioned having a daughter. What if she decided that the best way to get to him was through…”

“Oh crap,” said Elowen.

“And where might she be?” asked Cap.

“We could try around her school. I found a photo and I recognise the uniform. Prestigious private school. Isn’t too far from here,” said Alyssa.

Cap tossed his keys to Rowan. “You drive,” he said. “Alyssa, please hand me the serum.” 

Alyssa frowned, but did as he asked. “You sure?” 

“Yeah. We’re out of options now.

—

The clouds came out of nowhere. They closed in on the sun, shutting out the light before shedding their rain.

Through the downpour, Veronica Harris could make out a bus shelter. As she sprinted towards it, she realised someone was already in it. She stopped and squinted. Something was wrong.

At that moment, lightning lit up the world, and she could see all too clearly who it was.

“Lexi?” asked Veronica, her voice trembling faintly. “Lexi, is that you?”

The figure in the bus shelter made no reply. Nor did it move.

“I thought you were in hospital.”

“Please say something, you’re scaring me!”

Still no reply. Veronica began to shake. She turned. And ran.

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