How have I not seen it?
Glancing to the kitchen, I confirm the gun is still on the bench where she left it. A small silver lining from her proximity.
“Where’s Brynn?” I ask, hoping she will start rambling and spill it all.
Her mouth upturns, teeth clenched together. “Stop talking about her.” Her face contorts, eyes clamping shut as she tries to yank her hands away. “She wasn’t good enough for you!”
“Where is she?” I try again, growling out the words, trying to control the rage simmering away below the surface.
Her head jerks, an unnatural movement, tilting her ear to the ceiling. “You won’t get to her in time,” she cackles. “Mother tried controlling me for years, sneaking medication into my foodwithout me knowing. For years she was doing it, controlling my behaviour, but I found out.”
She’s like a horror film come to life. Her face flicking between calm and loving to violent and destructive. As if there were two different people fighting for control. Pulling her into me, she's half off her chair and I get a better look at her neck, a familiar red rash exposed in the light.
Stinging nettle.
Exploding from my seat I drag her to the front door, flinging it open to find the barrel of a gun practically pushed into my forehead.
“Fuck.”
“Sorry, brother. Jovie found us.” Duke pants, like he ran a marathon to get here.
Sarah stands like a statue, clocking Duke immediately in front of us, Jovie and Michael a few metres behind. The sight of our two prospects easing some of the tension I was facing.
“Where’s my mom?” Jovie asks, her voice shaking. Duke moves to the side and I see my little girl reach into her jacket. Her hand slowly withdrawing a gun. One of the spare glocks the guys keep in their rooms. One, we so diligently practiced on.
“Baby girl.”
“Where’s my mom?” Silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Your mom. Your Mom!” Sarah shrieks.
Jovie lifts the gun, pointing it in our direction. Michael's eyes flare, reaching out his hands trying to get her attention but it won't work. I see the conviction. The fear.
The bang of a door slamming open sounds in the distance, heavy footsteps crunching on the snow until four figures emerge from the shadows, all taking stock of the situation. Mac walks quietly behind Jovie, whispering words only she can hear, her hand dropping as soon as he holds her shoulder. Quickly securing it, he bends down, picking her up and holding hertightly against him. Pressing her head into the crook of his neck, the muffled cry of “I want my mommy,” springs me into action.
Practically throwing Sarah down the few steps of the porch, Hades catches her as she flails her arms in the air.
“Don't let her go,” I yell over my shoulder.
Her words, “You’re too late,” echoing across the forest as I sprint toward the perimeter gate. I can hear movement behind me but I'm not stopping until I get to her, quickly unlocking the gate with trembling fingers. The woodland is a little more dense in this area, the moonlight struggling to get through. Snow makes the ground easy to see but its juxtaposition of light greys and sharp blacks, not enough for me to tell if she's even in this area.
“Brynn, baby. Can you hear me? Call out to me.”
I'm desperate. Usually I would never give my position away like this. I don't know if Sarah had help and after what she said I’m starting to rethink if Victoria was the bad guy at all or if she was simply trying to control her daughter in the only way she knew how. My breath catches in my chest, my lungs not working the way they should.
“Brynn,” I cry out. “Call out to me, baby.”
The silence is deafening. Nothing but white noise screaming inside my head.
Bright lights flash on around me, Blaze, Michael and Axel all shining their phone torches as they catch up to me. My head whipping back and forth, stumbling as I follow a path of disturbed snow. Until I see one crimson drop floating in a sea of white.
No.
I’m nearby where I found Bynn the day she hurt her hand. The bulk of the stinging nettle is covered by snow but there is a patch that was half sheltered by a larger bush. Blood trails from that spot for several meters. A few drops turning to larger redpatches until there’s only red. Her boots come into view first. The shaking light of one of my brothers, slowly revealing more. She faces away from us, her body laying still, absorbed into the coldness of the night.
My ears ring. A high pitched sound that leaves black spots in my vision. “No!” I roar. The sound so pained people would believe it was a creature formed in the depths of Hell. My knees buckle next to her, rolling her on her back, my fingers slick from blood.
“Brynn, baby. Don't leave me,” I gasp, begging anyone who will listen to save her.
