Stay alive elite
1676 Words
CHAPTER 7
Odessa searched for a quiet place to let out her frustration and anger, but with every room she opened, she found people. Her recent scandal had taught her to avoid the toilets as a place of convenience. For all you know, a sneaky person may be eavesdropping. She fastened her steps as she spotted the empty balcony on the top floor of the castle. She thought how much welcome the wind would give her sorrowful soul. She closed the door behind her as she let herself down on the floor of the balcony. Her light sobs danced with the wind and the solace of the dark held her from losing peace. It was in that space that the eerie voice found expression.
“Atlas!”
The wind voiced. The mild sound of her name caught her off balance as she struggled to resonate with the unusual fact that no one was on that balcony with her. She looked down, observing the distant voices of the guests downstairs. It couldn’t have been so clear from that distance.
“Atlas!”
The unknown speaker called again, sending fear like arrows to Odessa.
“Who are you?’
She muffled with a shaky voice. Her fingers tapped the railings gently as her whole being trembled at the out-of-body experience.
“The question should be, who are you, Atlas?”
The voice giggled like a sick maniac.
“What?”
“How can you breathe and live without knowing who you are?”
The voice echoed.
“Tell me.”
Odessa requested. A part of her gained confidence in believing that it was just a voice in her head, hence the fear that grappled her had lost some effect.
“Look further and make that step till you hear the crack.”
The voice hypnotized her with his last instruction and, just like that, Odessa walked to the emergency exit and moved out of the Tharros estate. The tarred road was in no way quiet, but her legs still followed quietly till she made a bend for the forest. Her eyes were opened, but her mind was deadlocked, and she couldn’t do otherwise. Luca sped up after Odessa when she left the party, but he lost her scent on the enormous number of people that filled the gallery. He was determined to find her, but with every step, it proved futile until he spotted some pieces of handpicked gold along the emergency exit. He picked it carefully and, true to its leading, he caught her scent again. He followed slowly for fear of losing her scent again. His heart was bridled with guilt, and he wanted to make things right. The reality was they couldn’t be together. He has picked a mate, and he has to live with his decisions. He just had to make her see from his lenses. His heart began thumping loudly when he realized the regularity of the path that her scent followed, it was leading to the wild and if anything, he knew Odessa hated first-hand nature experiences because of her numerous allergies. He could sense it due to his protective instincts that trouble was lurking even as he entered the forest still picking her scent. He could feel that something had tempered the elemental balance and had obstructed the natural order. His eyes glowed even as he spotted Odessa in her gold dress although from away. Something in the forest was pulling her, and it was gradually pulling him too.
“Odessa!”
He kept shouting in futility as she approached the spiraling orb. It appeared like the witches summoning passage. His instincts were right, something was pulling Odessa. His legs fastened on to the wind as he bolted with them in a bid to catch up with Odessa before she was pulled in completely. It was the first time he had been face to face with dark powers. He practiced all his life and, with all the strength and knowledge of his powers for elemental balance, he struck the huge orb but was a little too late and less powerful. The orb broke, but Odessa’s index had been woven into one of its parts, hence it pulled her in and Luca, who held her in his arms, was pulled in unmatchable force. They both spiraled in between times as thunder and lightning escorted them to their abrupt destination. The atmosphere tore as it spat Luca and Odessa in the heart of the Shadowbrook forest. It was not the expected destination but with Luca’s interference, the outcome had changed.
“Are you alright?”
Luca asked Odessa who appeared to have her hands wrapped around her head from a severe migraine. The hypnotic journey had left her with a migraine and the force of the atmospheric travel orb. It was all too much for her head to curtail.
“Luca, what’s going on?”
She struggled with her voice.
“I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
He expressed in utter confusion. He stared around and with the cold and the strong sparse elms that lined the forest, he was sure that they were no longer in the capital city. He knew Moonstone bay’s forest and, if anything, there were hardly any pines. They were fruitful vegetations and the forest was usually flooded with government restrictions indicating private property. This forest was wild, the real wild.
***
“What do you mean; you searched all the forest and didn’t find her?”
Ethan roared. It had been 3 hours since Xandros came with reports of Odessa’s disappearance and Ethan had ordered the capital police to comb the whole Moonstone bay for his daughter.
“Sir, my men and I are still searching. I promise we will find her and, moreover, it has not been up to 24 hours. For all we know, she may be hiding away with her lover.”
The detective reported to Ethan, who was already ravaging with unbridled fury. He rushed at the detective.
“24 hours? Are you guys crazy? It’s my daughter that we are talking about here! Declare a state of emergency or something! Just find her!”
Ethan roared at the officers as they all ran in fear of Ethan.
“Ethan calm down, they will be found.”
Tharros attempted to calm Ethan. Everyone appeared to be in a state of dilemma and confusion. Zoe, Vynessa, Whitney, Axel, the couple, and others who stayed back after the crowd was dispersed. The tension in the air was overwhelming.
“Don’t tell me that, you don’t know how I feel!”
Ethan expressed as he solidly banged the wall. His mind was ravaging all over the place. Odessa was the only thing he was living for and if anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself.
“I know how you feel, my son is missing too.”
“No, you don’t. She is all I have.”
Ethan expressed with his eyes filled and threatening to fall. He was scared and Tharros could see it.
“Sir, we need to go now.”
Rowan expressed as he stretched his hands signaling the way out. Ethan settled at the back of the limousine as he let the tears that filled his eyes drop. He gave up everything to keep her safe and now, he led her straight to her doom.
“Sir, I followed the scent of her dress, and it led to the woods.”
Rowan reported.
“What do you mean?”
“Odessa hates the woods, hence it was not normal. The Tharros boy also left some trails and all I can say is, this case is bigger than it appears sir.”
“Find my daughter, Rowan.”
Ethan retreated.
***
“Where do you think you are going?”
Odessa asked as she kicked the wind in no particular direction. Her dress was making her mobility a futile task.
“We need to find someone who could help us with directions, at least for now. It’s late, and the wild is not the most suitable sleeping ground for elites.”
“Elite? You make that sound like a punishable offense!”
Odessa scoffed.
“I’m sorry. Odessa, where were you going in the wild?”
Ethan asked in genuine puzzlement.
“I heard a voice and saw no man. He gave me instructions and my brain wasted no time processing them before heeding its instructions.”
“So, I was right, you were under some sort of influence. Are you OK now?”
Ethan asked, concerned about her.
“Yes, I’m fine… someone is coming.”
“Fast, hide!”
Ethan ordered in a hushed tone. It was an old woman whose stick was her means of mobility. She shook as she examined the grass in the forest. Her basket was already filled with herbs. Her iris was white, and it glowed in the dark. She was blind, but she knew her way so clearly that she didn’t miss her steps.
“You both stand no chance out here in the wild alone. It’s no place for fragile youngsters.”
She expressed this even as she continued examining the leaves that she plucked from its vine. Ethan placed his hands over Odessa’s mouth to prevent her from responding to the weary old woman. He didn’t trust anything or anyone.
“For youngsters who have not left the comfort of their exquisite home before, all it takes is just one rookie gang.”
The old lady continued even without staring in their direction.
“Your fine dress would be the first thing they snatch before you realize your chosen-ish destiny.” She chuckled.
“What?”
Odessa exclaimed from behind Luca’s palm.
“I must admit, you are too naïve to fulfill the prophecy, such a long way to go.”
Odessa pushed from Luca’s grip as she rose to face the old woman.
“What do you know?”
Odessa inquired.
“Enough to keep you alive, Chosy!”
- Writer
