Nora wiggled her eyes. “Oh, we will be with some popcorn. I want every detail.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle as she pulled me into a tight hug before hopping into her car. I waved her off before turning on my heels and heading toward my car. As I walked, I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about how so much had changed. Things were looking good. Sure, I had to make a decision about Brandon and what I wanted, but besides that, life seemed like it was getting better.
As I got to my car, I paused as I felt a sensation, like a tickle in my chest. I looked over at the woods. The sensation grew, and I felt it heighten into a gut-twisting worry in my belly. I couldn’t see anything, but I knew something was there.
I felt the air shift, and like a sixth sense was screaming at me that something was coming. I knew it was the hybrid, and I looked over at the training ground. I was moving, running across the parking lot back toward the group. Brandon was standing with Kaleb near a picnic table. They were both looking at something with their backs to me.
“Brandon! Kaleb.” My voice came out loud and filled with worry. They both turned, their instincts instantly on high alert.
“What’s wrong?” Kaleb asked, his arms crossed.
I was panting by the time I reached them. I pointed toward the trees, half bent over. “A hybrid…”
They both turned, looking at the woods. I watched them both get ready to jump into action. Their arms flexed, and their eyes scanned the space.
“I felt it…I felt something coming.”
Kaleb looked back at me with a quizzical look. “You what?”
“I felt it. I know that something is coming.”
Kaleb looked at me like I was crazy, but Brandon held a softer expression. “Tell me more.”
I expected him to look at me like my brother was, but he wasn’t. Brandon was taking my word at value, and it meant a great deal. I didn’t know exactly what I was feeling, but I knew it was the hybrids. I didn’t know where or when, but I could feel they were close and we needed to be prepared.
“I can feel the energy, and it matches the same when the hybrid was in town. It’s out there.”
I watched both of their faces fall, and my stomach dipped. A small part of me was hoping that I was wrong. We were training to fight against them, but I didn’t know if we were ready. Either way, we were going to find out.
Chapter 21 - Brandon
“We are going to do a wide search,” I explained to the group. Kaleb, Westley, and Asher all stood ready.“I want all of the ground swept, and everyone needs to keep their eyes and ears open. If you see anything, please let the rest of us know immediately. Do not try to be a hero and fight it. You have no idea if there is one or twenty out there.”
Jade had explained she felt a pull toward the woods, and I believed her. Her powers were new, but I saw what she was capable of, and that wasn’t even her true potential. If she felt there was something out there that posed a threat, I took it to heart.
Jade stared into the woods, her arms wrapped around her middle, and her fingers gripped her skin. She looked uncomfortable as she stood there. I watched her eyes remain fixed on the trees.
“Jade, where do you feel the pull? Is there a specific spot?”
Jade looked at me before looking back at the woods. She chewed on her lower lip. “West.” She waved a hand toward that side of the woods. “But that’s it. I don’t have a definitive spot.”
“You have anything else to offer besides just that?” Kaleb asked, looking like he didn’t entirely believe her.
Jade glared at her brother. “Why don’t you believe me?”
Kaleb frowned. “I do believe you, Jade, but your power is new. Are you sure it’s not like…your body adjusting?”
Jade’s eyebrows went up. “My body adjusting? Have you forgotten that I gave birth to a child? I know my body, and Iknow my feelings. This is new, but I know it’s because something is out there.”
“Exactly, it’s new.” Kaleb scratched at his head. “So, maybe think about this before we send a crap ton of people out searching for something that may or may not be there.”
Jade narrowed her eyes at her brother. “Kaleb, I know what I’m feeling. It’s a hybrid. It’s the same feeling that I felt when I watched one rip apart Nick. Don’t question me about whether or not I’m sure because I am.”
Asher made an “ooo” noise and snickered next to us. Kaleb sighed before elbowing Asher in the gut, making him bend over in pain. Kaleb gave his sister a sympathetic expression as an apology.
“Now that we’ve got that over, can we get back to sending people out?” I asked, wanting to get moving with the search. If Jade was right and there was a hybrid out there, I wanted to get it before it got to us. I didn’t need another outbreak like last time.
“Yes, we should have enough people.” Asher waved a hand around the group. We have about fifteen guys with us. We could split up into two groups and cover more traction than just one.”
