Chapter 25
“A Granny Witch isn’t technically within our classification list. However, it is important to know of any that might be living within your Quadrant. They could be useful in a pinch or cause more than a few headaches if you aren’t careful.”
Journals of Warden Michael Keane
Journeying into the woods made Alexys feel a bit like an adventurer, with her pack slung over her back and her inner child eager to explore.
Surrounded by the woods, the cacophony of noise was completely overwhelming.
There were birds calling from all directions, and cicadas screaming from every tree and bush.
She took in a deep breath to fill her lungs with fresh air, the smell of cool earth beautifully pure.
With the dark mountain obscured from view, she was able to enjoy the peace of untouched nature before the heat of the day set in.
There was no clear path to take, so Alexys had tried to walk in a straight line from Opal’s house through the tree line, before pulling up the compass app on her phone.
Not that Alexys really knew how to use a compass, but it seemed like a good place to start.
In any case, she could just flip it around and find her way right back.
And with any luck, Elliot hadn’t wandered off too far, and she would be able to not only locate him, but also drag him back to civilization before the sun set.
Alexys had been at it for several hours, stopping every now and then to call Elliot’s name, keeping a steady eye on the compass.
The wind changed and she stopped, noticing her shoelaces were untied.
When she stood upright, a shiver traced its way down her arms. She pivoted in a slow circle, taking in her surroundings.
There was nothing around her that looked remotely dangerous, but she couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of being watched.
The sudden silence around her made her heartbeat thump loud in her ears.
Alexys didn’t feel like she was on an adventure anymore. In fact, she was …
Wait.
The woods were silent.
Her stomach dropped into her shoes. The sound of the cicadas, the birds, even the wind in the trees had stopped. It was as if the universe was placed on mute.
Then something. Almost inaudible at first. Alexys craned her neck. Through the absence of sound came a haunting whistle. It echoed off the mountains, as if emanating from everywhere and nowhere at once. It was a low-pitched moaning sound, unlike any she’d heard before. It made her skin crawl.
Alexys was able to put the pieces together pretty quickly that it must have been the same sound Elliot followed. The one allegedly made by the Hollow Walker. She swallowed. Judging by the sound, whatever was making it was far off in the distance. She had nothing to worry about.
Right?
The whistle faded as quickly as it came, but the silence remained. Nothing, it seemed, was brave enough to disturb the oppressive silence of the Hollow Walker.
A stick snapped behind her, and Alexys spun on her heels.
Silas Lockwood stepped out of the trees, a sly grin stretched across his face.
Her mouth fell open, and a strangled scream followed.
In any other situation, she would’ve been relieved to see another person (instead of a monster), but she wasn’t.
The eerie aura Silas emitted that first day they met was razor-sharp, and worse still, they were entirely alone in the middle of the woods.
“You!” Alexys gasped. “What the hell are you doing here?” Her words came out far braver than she felt.
“Me? Oh I’m just out for a walk,” Silas drawled. His gray suit was replaced with an equally gray, probably equally expensive, vest over a white dress shirt and gray pants. He was grossly overdressed for a walk in the woods, but she was sure he was well aware of that fact.
“Are you following me?” Alexys spat, vitriol oozing from every pore.
Their run-ins at the bed and breakfast could be chalked up to coincidence, but this?
She wasn’t that stupid. The hotel was at least two hours away, and Opal’s house was virtually impossible to find.
The chances of him winding up in that precise part of the woods at that precise time? Statistically impossible.
Silas shrugged, a casual motion of his shoulders, as if she hadn’t just accused him of being a stalker. “You know, you are one very interesting person, Alexys Keane.”
Alexys bristled. “What do you want, why were you at the hotel?”
“I am familiar with your very fascinating line of work, that’s all.” He pressed a hand to his chest as if it truly was a compliment, but his smile was mocking. Like he was aware of an inside joke she was missing.
His interest in Entity didn’t surprise her. There was definitely a type, and he fit the bill. But she’d never had anyone stop her on the street, or follow her home. Or worse, into the middle of nowhere where no one could hear her scream.
“What do you want?” Alexys asked again, her fear showing through as anger. “I don’t have time for games.”
“Indeed not.” He stopped his pacing and turned to face her, his expression surprisingly serious. “Unfortunately for you, you don’t have much time at all.” There was a dark undercurrent to his casual humor that screamed dangerous.
Fear seized her heart and twisted. There was no way he could know about Elliot. He was just toying with her.
But why?
She regarded him, the strange glint in his eye. The whole thing had to be an act.
“Again, why are you here?” Alexys wondered if there was anything she could use to hurl at him.
Silas sighed. “Because I need you to do your job.” He took a step toward her, and Alexys pushed further back against the tree. “I need you to be successful, Alexys. It’ll work in both of our favors if you are.”
“Sorry, you …” She tried to understand what he was talking about. It sounded like the ramblings of a crazed man, but there was too much intelligence in his eyes, too much cunning. “You want me to find … Elliot?”
“Indeed. I want you to do whatever it takes to find him.” Silas stepped back, much to her relief, and took a moment to straighten the sleeves of his shirt.
“Do you know him?” Alexys asked before she could stop herself.
Silas ignored her. “I believe you are capable of making the hard decisions and doing whatever it takes to achieve your goals. I also know you wouldn’t let a Warden die in the field under your watch.” He grinned. “Prove me right.”
Alexys didn’t know how to respond. The whole situation was too bizarre. In the end, she simply nodded, in part to appease him and to end the conversation.
“Of course I want to find Elliot.” Her voice was merely a whisper.
“Excellent.” Silas flashed another grin. Alexys thought his mouth looked full of far too many teeth. His brown eyes glittered with amusement. “Best hop to it then, Miss Keane. Places to be, people to rescue, and all that.”
Silas turned away from her, and Alexys took her opportunity to flee. She slipped around the tree behind her and broke out into a sprint, not daring a single glance back.