"Wait, what's happening at the orphanage? Are the children okay?" Florian asked, his voice tightening with distress.
"It's not the children you need to worry about," Argon said. "It's Pascal. I think something terrible has happened to him."
Florian stiffened. "What?"
Argon put the reins in his hands. "Go. Prove me wrong."
Terror flitted across Florian's face. I hated seeing him in such pain, especially since he was so joyful only a moment ago.
Florian furrowed his brow in concern. He bit his lip, eyeing the reins then looking up to me. Was he seeking my assurance? My heart ached. I knew how deeply Florian cared about his friend. As upset as I was that our moment had been interrupted, my care for Florian was stronger.
"I will be here no matter what," I said.
"Thank you, Devereaux..." Florian's hand clutched the reins as he eyed the horse warily. "I-I don't know how to ride."
"Midnight will take you there," Argon promised. "She's a special horse. She knows the way."
Florian eyed the horse in awe. "Okay. I'll be back."
After we helped Florian mount Midnight, he shot me a worried glance. I gave him a reassuring smile. I did not know what was going on with his friend, but whatever it was, I would support him through it all.
"What about the gate?" Florian asked.
"I've opened it for you," Argon said. "The path is clear. I can only hope you're not too late."
When Florian was settled and clutched the reins, the black horse snorted and took off. As he disappeared, that surging sensation beneath my skin receded. What was that feeling?
And why did I sense that it was incredibly important?
17
Florian
Midnight smoothly trotteddown the path towards the orphanage. I didn't know how she did it, but I was glad she knew the way because I was in no state to think clearly. My mind raced with stormy thoughts and my stomach flipped and clenched in a way that had nothing to do with the horse's motion.
My near-kiss with Devereaux was still fresh in my head. The memory of it made my heart flutter. It felt so natural, so right. I was disappointed when our kiss was interrupted, but if Argon was right, there was a bigger problem to address.
My stomach felt like lead. I hoped with every fibre of my being that what Argon said wasn't true. Pascal was fine when I left earlier, but it had been hours since then. A lot of things could've happened in that time.
A pang of guilt hit me. Was I wrong to leave him alone?
I gripped the leather reins with one hand and stroked Midnight's neck with the other. A horse was no replacement for Devereaux, but it was nice to have some kind of companion during this anxiety-provoking situation.
How did Argon know to act so quickly? I had a feeling he knew more than he was letting on. Did he know I was coming tonight? Was he the one who'd left the front gate ajar? And now he’d trusted me with his horse...
Unease settled in my belly like a rock. I hoped more than anything I'd see Pascal's grinning face when I arrived.
It was deep into the night when Midnight pulled up outside the orphanage. Her black fur blended into the shadows and I squinted to see her silver tack while trying to dismount. My stomach lurched as I looked down. Midnight was tall—I was a lot higher up than I realized...
As if sensing my discomfort, Midnight huffed through her nostrils and stepped over to an upside-down milk crate sitting by the front gate. I slipped off, using the milk crate like a stepping stool and feeling immensely grateful that Argon's horse was smarter than some humans I'd met.
"Um, thanks, Midnight," I said, giving the horse a pat. She eyed me with warm, deep brown eyes. It was probably my imagination, but I almost felt like she was wishing me good luck.
Dread raked through my insides as I slipped past the gate and into the orphanage. It was dark and utterly silent. Not a single candle was lit anywhere in the house. I wished Devereaux was with me, but I had to do this on my own. As soon as I knew Pascal was safe and sound, I'd gallop back to Devereaux and resume our special moment. I held on to that idea like a talisman, using its strength to guide me through the frightfully quiet orphanage.
I stood outside our shared bedroom door.
"Pascal?" I called softly. I didn't want to wake the children, but I couldn't shuffle around like a mouse if I wanted to find my friend. "I'm coming in."
