\[Elise’s POV\]
Jose’s words drift around me while I continue to stare at the building in front of me. With each passing minute, it becomes more and more familiar, and I can’t deny that I actually know this place.
Shivering, I try to make sense of why this is happening. Everything was just as I remembered it from the dock that sat just behind it and the calm sea. Even the seabirds that fly high in the blue sky are exactly as I remember them.
“Why?” I whisper, unable to believe it. “Why is this the place?”
As the words leave my lips, I feel myself drifting back to reality, and when the world comes into focus, I realize that tears are streaming down my face.
“What’s wrong?” Jose asks, reaching out to brush one from my cheek but stopping as I let a growl escape me. “Did something happen?”
“That place,” I say slowly, feeling my hatred for my parents rise once again. “That’s the fucking orphanage I was in.”
It was made to look like the perfect Catholic church with caring pastors and nuns who cared for the children, but really it was a place of torture.
Dammit! Did this mean that I was intentionally sent there to be used in those cloaked freaks' rituals? But if that was the case, why was I allowed to be adopted? None of this made any fucking sense.
“An orphanage.” Jose repeats, raising a brow. “Does that mean that there could still be children?”
As his question hits me, my eyes widen as a sick realization hits me.
“No,” I hiss, getting to my feet. “No. There’s no fucking way.”
But it would make sense. It was becoming increasingly clear that those cloaked freaks needed human sacrifices to raise whatever fucking beast they were trying to resurrect, and who would be the perfect option other than orphans with absolutely no family to miss them?
Did that mean that I was meant to be a sacrifice as well? Or was there another purpose for my being there?
“Elise,” Jose says, grabbing my cheeks. “Tell me what you’ve figured out.”
“I can’t be sure.” I admit, knowing the only option was to go to that place and see for myself. “But I think I understand the reason for that place even more. But there is only one thing that is still a mystery.”
“And what is that?”
"Why was I taken there and then released?”
“Hm,” Jose murmurs, growing quiet as he considers my question. “What do we know about this beast that they are trying to resurrect?”
“I don’t know much.” I admit. “But there is someone who should have an idea. If we want answers, I think maybe he can give them to us since it is his pack being threatened.”
\[Rosco’s POV\]
“Achoo!”
“Bless you.”
Turning, I meet Denali’s gaze as she watches me. For the past thirty minutes, I have been pacing, waiting for Jose and Elise to finish with whatever it was that they were doing, and even though I wanted to barge in and see for myself, I knew that would be counterproductive to what we were trying to do.
“You should really sit down.” William sighs; his annoyance over Elise being alone with another man is palpable. “You’re driving me crazy with your nervous energy.”
“Then leave.” I snap, shooting him a glare. “No one is making you fucking stay.”
Rolling his eyes, William ignores me and closes his eyes so he can pretend he is trying to sleep.
“How much longer are they going to be?” I grumble.
As if summoned by my words, Elise and Jose stroll into the room wearing twin masks of hope.
“Did you find something?” I ask, moving toward them but stopping as hesitance covers her features. “What is it? Fucking tell me!”
“I know the place.” Elise admits. “It was the orphanage I was sent to as a kid.”
“And?” I demand, not understanding what it was she was trying to get out of. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I think,” she says, shooting a look at Denali, who is watching quietly. “My ending up there was part of the grand scheme, but the only way to confirm that is for you to tell us everything that you know about these freaks.”
“Everything I know.” I repeat in confusion. “I don’t quite...”
“Why are they after your family?” Jose asks before I can ask. “Do you know what their motive may be?”
Eyes widening, I realize that I didn’t tell everyone about what I discovered in the diary kept by Denali’s family.
“About that,” I say slowly. “It is a punishment due to greed.”
“What kind of greed are you referring to?” Elise asks.
“Your ancestor decided to eat the flesh of the Goddess in order to live for eternity and, in the process, turned into a beast. Because of that, the curse was placed on your family in order to make up for what they did.”
“And they just decided that Serenity was the perfect target?” Elise asks in disbelief. “What the hell?”
“I’m not sure about the rest.” I admit feeling just as puzzled as them. “But do you think that it wasn’t an accident that you ended up at that orphanage?”
“I thought that maybe it wasn’t,” she responds. “But if I was meant to be there, why would they let me leave?”
That is the million-dollar question, and the only person who has it is currently on the run with the rest of his goonies.
“I think,” I announce. “We should take a trip to that orphanage.”
“We,” Elise corrects me, motioning between her and Jose. “Should be the ones to do it. You,” she continues, nodding toward me. “Should stay here and make sure nothing else happens to my sister or niece.”
“Obviously,” I huff.
Smirking, Elise grabs Jose and looks around the room.
“Then I think we should go ahead and prepare so we can leave first thing.” She says, giving Jose’s hand a tug.
“I’m going too.” William announces, jumping up from his seat. “You’re going to need more than just two.”
“Then I suppose I will send Marty too.” I add, though it was a given, he would be going if Elise was. “That makes four of you. I feel a few more may be necessary.”
“Warren!” Elise suggests grinning. “I haven’t seen my buddy in so long.”
“Vetoed,” William growls, causing me to grimace. “Four is plenty.”
“I’ll tell Warren to accompany you.” I say, shooting William a look as he glares at me. “Then we just need one more person.”
“What about me?”
Turning, I watch as Charlie enters the room.
"Alright, we have a team.” I say, nodding in approval. “All of you bring only the bare necessities and be ready to leave come morning.”
"And what about lodgings?" Elise asks. "It's a bit of a way from here."
"Leave it to me."