I hooked her chin. “Would you like the next time to be in a bed?”
Was she wanting us to do this again? Was our falling into this pattern maybe a sign?
She opened her mouth, but a scream erupted in the air, and we both tensed up. We both searched the woods around us, and I felt all the hair on my body stand up.
“What was that?” she whispered. “That sounded like it was close by us.”
“I have no idea, but it sounded like a person.” It didn’t sound like a hybrid or any other creature that we had encountered. I didn’t see anything in the trees near us, but that didn’t mean someone wasn’t.
Then my phone started to beep near my clothes, and I knew something wasn’t right.
“We need to go see what that was.”
I nodded in agreement.
We both rushed to get out of the water. We yanked on our clothes, shoving our shoes on. I pulled my phone out and saw a message from Brandon. A second later, the alarms started to go off, and Gabriella looked at me with wide eyes. “Is there a hybrid around? Is that what we heard?”
“That wasn’t a hybrid we heard, but that doesn’t mean one isn’t around. So, keep your eyes peeled and stay close to me.” We both started looking around the woods, not exactly sure where the noise was coming from. Who screamed? What was going on in town?
I wanted to go back because it was safer for Gabriella in town, but I also knew if someone was hurt out here, we needed to help.
“I think the scream was this way,” she said, pointing to the North.
We started moving deeper into the woods together. As we walked, I scanned the area for any signs that something was off. I noticed shoe prints, and what looked like someone had been dragged on the ground.
Just then, there were footsteps, and we both turned just as Brandon and Kaleb broke through the trees. They both looked stunned to see us standing there. “What the hell? Where did you guys come from?”
“Why are you wet?” Kaleb asked, looking between us.
“Water training,” Gabriella said, without a pause.
“We heard a scream,” I explained. “We think from the North. What’s going on in town?”
“We have no idea. The alarms went off, and Nora said she felt something from this way, so we went to check it out. We already have the other witches coming in case there are injuries.” “Did you guys see anything on your way here?”
“Westley!” Gabriella yanked on my shoulder, and I turned to where she was pointing. Ahead of us was a woman lying in the grass directly under a tree. She was covered in blood with her clothes ripped. She looked like she had been dragged in the snow, blood all over the white canvas.
We moved closer, and Gabriella leaned forward, searching for a pulse. “She’s alive, but it’s faint.”
I looked around, hoping this wasn’t a hybrid. The last thing we needed right now was a hybrid to come at us. But these wounds looked like one. They didn’t leave people alive, though, so the fact that she was seemed off.
“Shit,” Brandon cursed. “This is bad.”
“Is there anyone else around? Did you guys hear anything else?”
“No, just a scream.” I watched as Gabriella moved the girl’s hair, looking her over.
“Is she bleeding?” Kaleb asked.
“I can’t tell. She’s covered in it. I’m sure some of it is hers.”
The woman suddenly moaned, and pain crossed her face. Gabriella bent down, pulling her close. She patted the woman’s head and spoke calmly to her.
“We need to move. The longer we stay out here, the higher the chance that whatever came here is going to come back.” Brandon said, his eyes scanning the area around us.
Kaleb bent down and hoisted the woman up. We all moved together, heading back to the training ground. As Brandon explained, Chelsey, Marie, and Hazel were waiting there.
As soon as we appeared, Hazel came running at us. “Oh my god, is she okay!”
