everyone settled into their rooms and the moon made its way into the night sky, I found Ace waiting for me in our spot under the stairs. The world around us had grown still, bodies and minds finding solace in the darkness the world brings.
After Finn attacked me yesterday, Electra had expelled him from Woodsong Academy and Ace and I were banned to our dorms and classes only. Neither of us were to step out of line. Though, I knew Ace wasn’t going to allow us from following our lead to ending the trackers. The upcoming dance had been officially canceled. Most students were bummed, but we’re already talking about rescheduling. While they were worrying about normal teenage dilemmas, Ace and I were worrying about stopping the Trackers.
Now, as we all sit together in my dorm room, I think about my new friends and am more than grateful for their trust in me. I had told Lisa and Jade about what had happened with Finn. To say they were shocked would be the understatement of the century. Ace and I finally explained our plan for the Trackers and Lisa and Jade jumped to help us out. Now, with the help of a few of the Shifters from Ace’s pack, we were ready–only I hoped we knew what we were doing.
No one knew that six teenagers were about to embark on a dangerous and possibly stupid journey. The quietness of the night was just a mere illusion, allowing people to believe they are safe. But with darkness comes secrets and monsters lurking in places no one can find.
A slight knock on my bedroom door jars me out of my half-sleep state. I wonder if this could be Electra. Maybe she decided I did deserve a harsher punishment after all. Throwing the covers off my body, I jump out of bed and stumble to my bedroom door.
When I opened it, I was surprised to see Ace standing on the other side.
“Hey,” I whisper, looking around.
There isn’t anyone else in the commons area and I wonder why he is here. We were both told to go to our rooms.
“I know Electra told us to stay inside, but we need to spy on the Trackers,” Ace says, through clenched teeth.
“What?” I ask, shaking my head.
The last time we snuck out, we were almost caught by the Trackers. Is he insane? Plus, Electra would lose her mind if she caught us now. We couldn’t risk our plan just yet.
“Electra has good intentions, but I am sick and tired of sitting and waiting. We are their prey. I am tired of being hunted, it’s our turn to get revenge for those who lost their lives at the hands of the Trackers. Are you with me?” he asks, reaching his hand out to me. “We can gather the others and end this now. No more fears. No more waiting.” The intensity of his words strike me like a semi-truck.
I stand frozen for what feels like forever. I know that leaving the Academy is wrong. Dangerous even. But, I had set my sights on seeking revenge for my parent’s murder and now I have my chance to take the first step at doing that. I guess it was a no brainer.
“I’m in.”
***
Death brings a strange peace.
When you experience loss-- a loss of the magnitude that both Ace and I have, it causes you to change. Your wants and desires shift and you find yourself thinking about them, even though they can’t come back.
I think about this as I zip up my jacket and hold onto Ace’s hand tightly as he leads us outside. He is careful to not make any noise. If the professors were to learn of us sneaking out, well...I don’t want to imagine what they would do this time. We were lucky the first time. I doubt we would be again.
In all honesty, I had no clue what I was doing. I had no idea what I was even looking for. The only Trackers I had ever seen were in movies and Halloween costumes. Did they all look the same? I was in way over my head, but I couldn’t dwell on that now. I was too far into this to turn back now.
“Are you ok?” Ace asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
“Yes, just nervous,” I said with a shaky voice.
“If you want to go back…”
“No, I am fine.”
We walked a few more steps and found the others waiting for us, hunched down and hiding. Then I saw someone carefully walking out of the Academy gates. At first, I thought it might be Electra or one of the guards. I froze in place.
“Where do you want to start?” Brady asked. He looked at me and noticed the fear on my face. Brady was one of Ace’s pack members and was always nice to me when I saw him in the halls and class. “What’s wrong?” he prompts.
“Someone is coming,” I say, pointing toward the Academy. I feel my wings as they start to sprout and I can sense that Ace is about to shift. We prepare to take our stances when I notice something different about the person heading our way.
In the glow of the moonlight I notice it’s not an adult. Instead, it’s Lisa and Jade!
“What are you doing out here?” she asks, waving toward me and Ace.
Ace looks at me, but I just shake my head.
“What are you doing out here?” I question back.
“I saw you and Ace walking out. I heard Electra talking to a guard yesterday about how you two had snuck out. I knew you were doing it again,” she said. Crossing her arms across her chest, she jets out her hip. “You and Ace said we were doing this together. All I got was a lousy text. I thought this scheme would be more elaborate,” she pouted.
“Did you expect a formal invitation?” Brady asked sarcastically.
“No, but something more personal…” Lisa said, but I cut her off.
“Ok guys. As much as I enjoy this banter, we have more serious things to think about right now,” I reminded them all. I loved my friends, but right now, we needed to focus.
Lisa and Jade nod in agreement and Ace begins to head toward the forest again. Brady follows closely behind us, keeping his eyes open for any sign of movement.
“We need to go inside the woods. From what the guards and Electra have said, the Trackers have a camp somewhere on the other side of the woods. They have to be close to be able to spy on us. We need to stay together,” Ace insisted again.
“What if we combine our powers? Use the magic we just learned?” I asked, not even sure what I was asking.
Shaking his head, Ace looks conflicted. “We can try. Both of you are just coming into your powers. It could be dangerous-- it could turn deadly,” he said, shuddering at his own words.
“But, what if we use our powers separately?” Lisa asked, her bravery shining through her normal quiet demeanor.
“That might work, but only if you are in danger. Brie, if they come after you and you can’t call upon your magic, you have to fly out of here. Take Lisa and Jade with you. Ok?” he asks, and I can sense that he is worried about bringing us with him.
I agree, only to stop him from arguing with me. There is no way that I would leave him alone.
Somewhere off in the distance, a Siren began to sing a soft melody and an owl sat on a tree branch, singing its night song, possibly warning us of future dangers. With the eerie forest coming alive right before our eyes, we all just nodded our heads and agreed to follow Ace’s lead.
Together, we began making our way to the tree wall that would open us up to the inside world of the forest I had been warned to stay away from. And here I was, willingly taking a step inside. I sucked in a deep breath as Ace grabbed my hand. Knowing he was with me took some of the fear away.
As a group, we stepped inside the forest. The temperature dropped and I felt a chill rush through my body. It was darker inside here, with large branches extending over the top of us and blocking out the majority of the moon’s natural light.
Ace stopped and began inspecting his surroundings. He held up his hands and a soft ember glow lit up the area around us.
“Wow,” I mused. I was in awe of how easily he was able to conjure that light. When I cast my first spell and created fire, I had to focus all of my energy and thoughts. Hopefully, one day, I would be as skilled as he is.
With the light now provided to us by Ace, we continued walking. Each of us kept our eyes open and listened to every sound around us. We had been walking for what felt like forever, when an ominous feeling swept over the woods. My heart started pounding and sweat began to form on my brow. An alertness grew inside of me and I stopped, causing Ace to stop, too. He looked at me and I widened my eyes, letting him know something was off.
A flash of light flew past me and everyone else stopped, too, now fully aware that we weren’t alone.
“Everyone stop. Don’t move,” Ace shouted to the group.
It was a spotlight. We must be near the Trackers camp.
Suddenly, a man appeared in front of us. He wore an all-black uniform with a heavy vest, combat boots, and a thick, metal helmet that covered his face. He was a Tracker. I just knew it. He wore enough padding and metal to block most sparks a Witch or fae could throw at them. As he drew nearer, I heard the footsteps of more men approaching.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ace lift his hands at lightning speed and a loud, menacing growl escaped through his lips. He shifted instantly into his wolf form and I could see the Tracker begin to shake in front of us. The ground shook below our feet as more men ran from the camp to where we now stood. Brady jumped high into the air, and I was in awe as his body contorted and shifted into a regal looking white wolf.
“Run,” Lisa bellowed.
Jane grabbed my hand and pulled me with them, though I wanted to stay and make sure Ace and Brady were ok. I only had a second to glance up and spot the Trackers thundering toward us. They held guns in their hands and began to shoot. We all ran, forgetting about light and direction as we searched for safety. I allowed my wings to sprout and I grabbed for Lisa. I flew us high into the air as she began to chant a spell and threw firebombs down at the Trackers. Ace ran just below us and dodged the bullets as they fired at him. Jade flew beside me, watching in case she needed to swoop down and help the wolves.
I felt something hard and stinging hit my back and I couldn’t keep myself in the air any longer. Still holding on to Lisa, I tried to hide the pain I was in. “I’m going to have to put us back on the ground,” I shouted.
“Are you hurt?” she asked, holding onto my arms.
“I don’t know. Something hit my back,” I cry out, as the pain stings.
I tumble to the ground without grace and both Lisa and I roll as we hit the damp, night grass.
“Brie,” Ace screamed, as he witnessed my fall.
“I’m ok,” I said, as I crawled onto my hands and knees. “I think I was grazed by a bullet,” I say, looking at my side and seeing a tear in my shirt, but no wound or blood.
Lisa dusted herself off and stood and as the three of us turned around, we spotted an army of Trackers rushing our way. They were still firing their weapons and shouting, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. Jade landed beside us, trying to inspect me as I struggled to remain calm.
“Run!” I screamed, as they gained on us.
The Emerald green gates were just a few feet from us, but the distance felt like miles. An alarm echoed through the night and all the lights inside the Academy burst to life.
We were caught and there was no way we were getting out of this. I just hoped we could get inside the gates before the Trackers killed us all.