Raindrops fell from the night sky, dampening Brianna’s hair and t-shirt. Her phone vibrated. She breathed a sigh of relief. Renee and Maeve were safe—for now, at least. "It's time to teleport," she said.
Adam wrapped his arms around Brianna and held her close. His eyes met Charlotte's. "We are headed to the mountain top, twenty miles northeast of here. Will you be able to find it?"
Charlotte put her arms around Jared. "I'll do my best." Her voice quavered.
Adam focused his attention on Brianna. "Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes."
A moment later, she was overtaken by a centrifugal force. The sensation was of extreme pressure and rapid rotation.
Dizzy and exhilarated, it took a few moments for Brianna to realize when she had stopped spinning. "You okay?" Adam asked, his arms still around her.
"Yes, I think so. That was a trip!" Pulling away slowly, Brianna steadied herself with her hand against his chest. "Where are we?" she whispered. The rain had escalated to a heavy downpour. An eerily thick fog settled on the earth. Shadows of trees and thorn bushes swayed in the darkness.
"Somewhere on Rocky Ridge Mountain. I can sense Licinia. She's nearby. She must already know we're here."
Charlotte appeared in the mist. "Hey," she whispered. "I made it."
A miasma of evil roiled in the darkness. Brianna glanced around, her heart pounding. "Where's Jared? Where's Ren— " She couldn't finish speaking Renee's name. It was the strangest sensation. Her mouth was stuck open. Globules of cold rain tickled her tongue. Her brain pleaded with her muscles, but they would not move.