Chapter 130
Elara's POV
"Wait." Tina set down her water bottle. "If that area's locked down, doesn't that mean fewer people are looking for her?"
The clearing went quiet.
Kress's jaw tightened. He'd been packing away the map, clearly hoping the subject was closed.
"The official investigation is ongoing," he said carefully.
"But?" The quiet girl, Linda, suddenly spoke up. "You said 'official' like there's something unofficial."
I kept my face neutral. Watched Kress's shoulders tense.
He was hiding something. Everyone could see it.
"The witnesses said she looked injured," Kress said finally. "But still running. Still trying to get away from whatever was chasing her."
My chest constricted.
Injured. Running. Three days ago.
Lynette.
"And nobody went after her?" Tina's voice rose. "That's insane. She could be—"
"She could be dead already," Kress said bluntly. "Or she could have made it out on her own. Either way, it's not our problem."
"But what if she didn't?" Luke's voice was quiet. Firm. "What if she's hurt and waiting for help that isn't coming?"
Kress's jaw tightened. "Then the authorities will handle it."
"The authorities who locked down the area and stopped looking?" Luke shook his head. "If someone needs help, we help them. That's basic humanity."
Sass jumped to his feet. "Hell yes. This is what I'm talking about. Real adventure. Not some boring nature walk."
"Dude, imagine if we actually found her." Zack's eyes were bright with excitement. "That would be incredible. Like something out of a movie."
Tina was already holding up her phone, framing imaginary shots even though there was no service. "We'd have the craziest story to tell. Nobody back home would believe it."
"My dad's always saying I need to do something meaningful," Sass added. "Not just coast through life. This is meaningful, right?"
Greg pushed his glasses up. "I mean... it's definitely the kind of experience that changes you. Shows what you're capable of when it matters."
Linda nodded slowly. "And if we don't at least try, and something happens to her... I don't think I could forgive myself for just walking away."
"Exactly." Zack gestured widely. "We're here. We have the chance to actually help someone. How often does that happen?"
Luke said nothing. But his expression made it clear—he was going, with or without the others.
"Absolutely not." Kress's voice went hard. "That area is off-limits for a reason. I'm not authorized to take civilians into a restricted zone."
"We signed waivers," Zack said.
"Comprehensive waivers," Sass added. "We knew the risks when we paid."
Greg adjusted his glasses. "I have a satellite GPS tracker. Emergency beacon. If something goes wrong, search and rescue can find us in minutes."
Kress looked at Cole. A silent plea for backup.
Cole's expression didn't change. "I don't care where we go. As long as she stays safe." His eyes flicked to me for half a second.
The message was clear. Your call.
Tina stepped forward. "My father knows the governor. If something happens, we'll have every resource in the state mobilized within an hour."
Linda pulled out her phone. "I have contacts at three major news networks. We're not just random hikers. People will notice if we go missing."
The twins started talking over each other, listing their family connections. Greg mentioned his uncle worked for the FBI.
I watched them. These soft, privileged kids who thought money and connections made them invincible.
They had no idea what they were walking into.
But they were giving me exactly what I needed—a reason to change our route. To head toward the area where Lynette had been seen.
Where she might still be.
Kress's face was stone. "You don't understand what you're asking."
"We understand perfectly." Sass pulled out his phone, showing the GPS map. "Area's right here. Eight miles northeast. If you won't take us, we'll go ourselves."
"You'll die," Kress said flatly.
"Maybe." Zack shrugged. "But that's our choice, isn't it? We're adults. We signed waivers."
"We paid for a wilderness experience," Tina added. "If you refuse to guide us, we'll find our own way. That's not a threat—it's just what we'll do."
I watched Kress's expression shift. Saw the moment he realized they meant it.
These stupid, privileged kids would actually walk into that forest alone. With their fancy GPS and their bear spray and their complete lack of survival skills.
And they'd be dead within twenty-four hours.
"Damn it." Kress's jaw worked. "Fine. But not because of your contracts or your lawyers. Because if I let you idiots go in there alone, you'll get yourselves killed. And I'm not having that on my conscience."
He jabbed a finger at each of them in turn. "But we do this my way. My rules. You follow my orders without question, or I will physically drag you back to the trailhead. Understood?"
The clearing was silent.
I met his stare. Kept my face blank.
"Agreed," Luke said quietly.
One by one, the others voiced their acceptance.
I said nothing. Just inclined my head slightly.
Kress pulled out his map again. Spread it on the ground.
"We're here." His finger stabbed a point. "The incident happened approximately eight miles northeast. Past tonight's planned campsite."
My pulse kicked up.
Eight miles. Tomorrow.
I'd be that much closer to finding her.
"We'll modify our route," Kress continued. "But we move carefully. Stay together. And the second I say we're done, we're done. Understood?"
"Understood," the group chorused.
Kress folded the map with sharp, angry movements. "Pack up. We're moving out in five minutes."
The students scrambled to their feet. Suddenly energized.
Tina started humming. Sass and Zack were already debating what they'd do if they "encountered hostiles." Greg was triple-checking his GPS.
I stayed where I was. Watching them.
Cole moved to stand beside me. Close enough that his shoulder nearly touched mine.
"You're quiet," he said, voice pitched low.
"Thinking."
"About?"
I didn't answer.
But we both knew.
Lynette. I'm coming.
---
We walked for another three hours.
The terrain got rougher. The maintained trail gave way to animal paths and raw wilderness.
Tina stopped complaining and focused on not tripping. Greg's face was red and sweaty. Even the twins had gone quiet.
Only Luke seemed comfortable. His movements were efficient. Practiced.
Cole and I stayed near the back. Maintaining our cover as casual additions to the group.
But I was counting. Calculating.
Five miles northeast. At this pace, we'd reach the area by noon tomorrow.
If Lynette was there. If she was alive.
If the Wild Hunt hadn't already—
I cut the thought off.
She was alive. She had to be.
The sun was sinking when Kress finally called a halt.
"We camp here tonight." He pointed to a flat clearing near a stream. "Set up your tents. Get water. Make a fire if you want, but keep it small."
The students dropped their packs with groans of relief.
I watched them fumble with tent poles and guy lines. Tina's tent collapsed twice. Greg's gear spilled across the ground. The twins argued about whose spot was better.
Luke and Cole had their tents up in minutes.
I set up mine just as fast. Military-style. No wasted motion.
Then I sat outside it. Alone.
Facing northeast.
The forest in that direction was dark. Impenetrable.
But somewhere in there, Lynette was running.