Coltonâs voice cut through the tension like a knife, âLook, if the perpetratorâs already got blood on their hands, they wonât care how many of us are here. If theyâve gone berserk, seeing red, thatâs when Thaliaâs truly in the crosshairs. What we need to do is find her, and do it quickly!â
Margot nodded, a little sheepishly, acknowledging she wouldnât run her mouth off anymore.
She began to recollect the sounds she heard during the call with Thalia. The place was whipped by the wind, strewn with rocks, but more importantly, it sounded like there was the clanging of trash cans!
âWait, Iâve got it! Thereâs a spot with those metal recycling bins, surrounded by chain-link. fences!
Thatâs the noise, Iâm sure of it! I donât know what got knocked into them, but I remember that distinct clatter of bins.â
Normally, Margot mightâve missed such a trivial detail, but in the heat of the moment, it came to her.
She even figured it was the sound of trash cans.
âThereâs only one place around here with those kinds of bins. If Iâm not mistaken, itâs to our left.â
The producer pointed in that direction; his eyes shadowed with concern.
They all knew the area well, having been dragged around by Colton during the shoot. No one wouldâve guessed theyâd be back under such dire circumstances.
âLetâs split up. The quicker we find Thalia, the better. The longer it takes, the more danger sheâs in!â
Colton and the producer headed one way, while Margot stuck close to Balfourâs heels.
âKeep it down when weâre out there, and for goodnessâ sake, if you see something scary, donât scream.
We donât want to tip our hand, got it?â
Balfourâs condescending tone sent a shiver down Margotâs spine, but she swallowed her fear for the sake of the rescue.
âGot it, Mr. Howard,â she murmured with a hint of defiance.
Balfour didnât need her to do anything; he simply wanted her to stay cool and not slow him down.
Meanwhile, Thalia was shivering behind a dumpster, her legs numb from crouching.
Using the shadows of the night as her cloak, she carefully shifted her weight, hoping to move to a safer spot.
But fate had other plans as her foot crunched down on the gravel, the sound piercing the still mountain air.
Kael let out a sinister chuckle, âOh, Thalia, Thalia. Just stay put, would you? Iâve got your number now!
Donât move, Iâm coming for you. Why canât you be a good girl, eh? If youâd just stayed put, I couldâve made it quick and painless for you! But no, you had to make me hunt, and now⦠now you get to taste my wrath! Ha-ha-ha!â
Alone on the mountain, Kael couldnât believe it took him so long to find her, especially since she had been right behind him all along. His temples throbbed with rage as he flexed his wrist, a twisted grin spreading across his face.
In this moment, he couldnât tell if the rush he felt was from nearing the completion of Dianaâs task or the impending release of his fury upon Thalia.
At first, when Diana gave him the job, he just felt bound by their shared fate on this twisted journey.
Whatever Diana wanted, heâd do without question. But now, the thought of Thaliaâs fragile neck going limp in his grasp thrilled him beyond measure.
With these dark thoughts, Kael took menacing steps toward Thalia.