"You guys lost Lyra?" Ophelia asked, anger flashing across her face.
"Lyra can't defend herself against all those possessed witches in her condition." She instinctively rested a hand over her stomach. "We need to find her."
The rest of us fell silent.
"It may already be too late," Ethan said quietly. "She may have been taken… just like our loved ones."
"I refuse to believe that," Ophelia shot back. "She could have simply gotten separated from us in these woods."
I let out a long sigh.
"Move out."
I motioned for Alphonso to pick me up again.
"If Lyra gets kidnapped…" I muttered, "things are going to get ugly."
"Where are you, Lyra?" Ophelia called anxiously.
***
"Hello? Hello? Guys? Ophelia?" I shouted.
No answer.
One moment I had been in the middle of the battle… the next, everyone had run. They left me behind. Ophelia… she'll come looking for me. She's the only one I can trust. I can't believe I couldn't keep up with everyone else. These woods are enormous. Maybe they think I was kidnapped… or maybe they simply gave up looking for me. The only one who would come back is Ophelia. I'm not surprised the wolves don't care enough to search. I am their mortal enemy, after all. My head throbbed with every step. At least it was quiet here. Thank goodness. Maybe if I keep moving, I'll find Ophelia. There was no road anymore. Only mud. Each step made a wet squishy sound beneath my shoes, making it harder and harder to walk. I climbed partway up a hill before my foot slipped. I slid backwards.
"Damn this hill."
I'll have to go around it somehow. Hopefully I'll run into Ophelia. I just need to find a way out of these woods. There has to be one. I'll keep walking… wherever my legs decide to take me.
"Lyra…"
I spun around.
"Ophelia?"
Nothing. No answer. Maybe I'm imagining things. I continued walking. My head still pounded. I couldn't stop now.
"Lyra…"
I turned again.
"Whoever keeps calling my name… come out!"
Silence. I really am starting to lose it. Maybe it's because I haven't eaten. I haven't had blood in so long. My stomach growled loudly. I placed a hand over it. It's a good thing vampires can survive a long time without blood… though injuries certainly don't help.
"Ophelia!" I shouted.
"Ophelia, are you here?"
Again… nothing. Then something cold brushed against my shoulder. I whipped around. Nothing. My eyes widened. Ahead of me… a girl with purple hair slowly walked through the trees.
"Lily?"
I wanted to run toward her.
"Lily!" I cried.
The figure slowly turned. This could be another trap. Or maybe I'm hallucinating again. As much as I long to see my little sister… I had to be careful. I needed this concussion to heal. A tear slipped down my cheek.
"Lily…"
"You're not really here… are you?"
The figure stepped closer. More tears fell. Fake or real… I just wanted to see my sister again. I cautiously stepped forward.
"Where are the others?"
No response. I reached out with trembling hands.
"Lily…"
"Where's Levi?"
"Gone."
My heart stopped.
"Gone?"
I forced myself to stay calm.
"Is he dead?"
"No."
Relief washed over me.
"At least…"
"Not yet."
"What?"
Fear returned all at once. I cupped the figure's cheeks… my hands passed right through her. I knew it. Another illusion. I lowered my head as disappointment crushed my heart. Why? Why toy with me like this? I wanted to scream. Instead… I swallowed the pain. The shadows were already closing in. I've never wanted anything more than to destroy them… Bring my family back… and avenge everyone we've lost. If I have to betray others to reach the end… Then so be it.
"Lyra…"
That voice… that one felt real. I turned around. No one. When I looked back… The illusion had disappeared. How long have they been following me? Running would only make things worse. If I searched for Ophelia and the others… I'd only put them in danger. I don't want Ophelia getting hurt. I don't want her losing her baby. The wolves… I doubt they'd care about me anyway. The best thing I can do… is stay away from them. I'm already lost. I might as well stay that way. I quickened my pace until I stepped onto another slippery slope.
"Whoa!"
I slid all the way down before finally stopping. I brushed myself off. What are they planning? I hate being alone… but I've been alone before. Especially around these creeps.
"Lyra…"
"Over here."
The whisper echoed through the trees. They're good at hiding. Why am I always the one who ends up in situations like this?
"There's no escape," another voice whispered.
I ignored it and kept walking.
"You'll be joining Lily very soon."
I froze. A possessed witch stepped out from the trees, staring directly at me.
"How come it's witches that came after me this time?"
"Some of us escaped," the possessed witch replied.
"We heard a little group was traveling to Eldoria."
"So we thought we'd stop by… and visit."
"What have you done to my family?"
No answer. I slowly stepped backward.
"Where are the rest of your friends?"
"I don't know."
The witch laughed.
"Ha!"
"You got lost."
"I wouldn't get your hopes up."
"The werewolves probably aren't even looking for you."
"Ophelia isn't a werewolf," I muttered.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a narrow opening hidden behind thick bushes. No path. But it was my best chance. I stumbled toward it as quickly as I could, forcing my way through the branches. Maybe I could hide until they left. I ducked low beneath the bushes and held my breath.
"The girl's injured," one voice said.
"She can't have gotten far."
I covered my mouth, taking slow, careful breaths. Bushes rustled all around me. A part of me wished I were with Ophelia… but if I moved now… I'd be caught.
***
"Where could Lyra be?" Payton asked.
"I wish we still had our sense of smell," Ethan muttered.
"We would've found her by now."
Everyone suddenly stopped.
"Why did we stop?" Sabrina asked.
"There isn't enough room," Alphonso answered.
"None of us can fit through there."
"Set me down," I said.
"What?"
"Just do it."
Alphonso carefully lowered me to the ground.
"I'm crawling through."
"What about your ankle?"
"I'll manage."
I dropped onto my knees and slowly crawled into the narrow opening.
"If I don't come back…"
"I'm probably on the other side."
"Be careful, Zac," Sabrina said.
I will. The bushes grew thicker the farther I crawled. There was only one direction to go. Straight ahead. If Lyra isn't here… I'm going to lose it. I pushed through another branch… thunk. I bumped into someone. I looked up. Lyra. Her eyes widened.
"Are you real?"
I blinked. "What?"
She reached over and placed a hand against my forehead.
"Yes. Now get your filthy hands off me."
I swatted her hands away.
"You're such a big idiot."
"What?"
Before either of us could say another word–
"Guys! I heard something move!"
Both our eyes widened.
"The shadows followed me," Lyra whispered.
"Crap."
A beam of light suddenly pierced through the bushes. We slowly looked up. A possessed witch smiled down at us.
"Well… well…"
"Looks like I just found both the vampire princess…"
"And the werewolf prince."
I groaned.
"Great."
The witch tossed something toward us. A thick mist burst into the air. I barely had time to react. Everything around me became blurry. The last thing I heard was Lyra coughing beside me. Then… darkness.