Sliding my phone free, I turned on the torch to navigate the huge tree roots in the thickening forest. Soon after, we entered a cleared area filled with more black-clad players.
I had to admit, no matter how diehard these people were, the setting for their laser tag was badass.
Towering trees provided a lush canopy. Dried pine needles covered the ground like a blanket only interrupted by enormous roots.
The smell was incredible.
“Hmm,” the teen said. “I can’t see him.”
“I don’t want to hold you up. Just let me know where to search.” Their game started in ten minutes.
Shooting me a relieved smile, he pointed to the far back. “Thanks. I’ll get in trouble if I’m late. Herc stands there with the marshal when we’re in Timber.”
I let his weird game lingo wash over me. “Thanks for your help.”
Pine needles crackled underfoot as I wound through the swelling crowd. How many people played this damn thing? There had to be hundreds gathered.
A walkie-talkie crackled from the vest of a willowy brunette. “Little Red. West team in position. Over.”
She replied coolly, “Roger that. This is Snow. South team in position. Over.”
This was just one of the teams? Shit balls. In the alternative universe where I was a badass bitch, I might want to get in on this.
“Where’s your mask?” asked a woman who appeared a few years younger than me.
A quick check told me the entire crowd were donning black masks. I stared at the black number she shoved into my hands. It had hard clear shells over the eyes that gave it a bug-like appearance, but otherwise mimicked Batman’s mask.
“Oh, I’m not—” The words died in my throat as she left.
I surveyed the masses.
The mood had changed. The chatter was gone. The sea of black masks was borderline freaky. Returning to the car was the safest option. I’d come out again tomorrow. Or preferably, call first—no matter that Walter Nash crossed his heart and swore his name on the matter.
On the other hand, if I spoke to this guy now, it could save me petrol money.
One more try.
“Excuse me, do you know where Hercules is?” I hushed to a short male in the eerie tension.
“Rhona?” the man replied. “Why are you being so nice?”
Okay, he was the third one to say it. Was it the emerald eyes or the red hair?
“He’s running maintenance on ground traps tonight,” he continued. “He was over there a few minutes ago.”
Mumbling my thanks, I followed the direction of his arm.
“Mask on,” someone hissed.
Jesus. Would it stop everyone staring?
I held the mask between my teeth, pulling my hair into a messy bun before slipping the stupid thing overhead and tightening the strap. To my surprise, my vision wasn’t impeded whatsoever by the bug lenses. If anything, the lenses countered the darkness.
Fancy…
Judging eyes returned their attention to the front, and I released a breath.
Approaching the forest line, I whispered. “Does anyone know where, uh, Herc is?”
An older woman cast me a curious look. “Over there.”
The best and worst thing about being a redhead? Spotting us was easy. The only red head in the crowd stood straight-backed beside a massive pine.
I took a step in his direction. Shoot, what would I say to the guy?
Hey, I pretended to be a Thana to crash your laser tag game.
Herc? I’m Andie. No, not Rhona. Yes, I look like her. Also, are we related in any way?
A thunderous boom shook the ground, and I jumped as the mob of people surged forward.
“Watch out.”
Someone jostled me, and I sidestepped another, frantically trying to find Hercules again. Shoving my way forward, I spotted him dodging deeper into the trees as the younger part of the horde overtook him.
Shit.
“Hey,” I called, giving chase. Stampeding feet and the grunted breaths of hundreds buried the sound of my shout.
Crap, the guy was fast.
Wait.
Wait.
I was chasing a grown man through the damn forest. What was I going to do? Spear-tackle him to the ground and kindly ask that he return to the manor for a lengthy conversation?
I slapped the closest tree—redhead temper—halting in my tracks. The laser tag goers passed me, and I watched their disappearing backs, listening to the rumbling thunder of their feet.
This had officially become the strangest night of my life.
Choking on a laugh, I patted the tree I’d just slapped. Sue me, I felt bad for hitting the thing. Mum always had a deep respect for nature and instilled it in me well and truly.
Ugh, back to Ella F it was. I’d find a quiet street to park and sleep for the night, then return tomorrow.
I turned in a slow circle.
These trees were really thick. I couldn’t see the manor or clearing from here. I set off the way I came, snorting again at the turn of events. Sliding my phone out, I snapped another picture to send to Logan.
Tried to.
“No reception,” I grumbled. Maybe that’s why Mum left the valley. Wouldn’t blame her if so.
I didn’t run that far. Where was the clearing?
Getting lost was not on my list of fun things to do tonight.
I retreated to the slapped tree—or one pretty close—and tried a slightly different direction.
The sounds of the laser tag mob were gone. The odd shout echoed through the trees as I walked, but otherwise, a heavy quiet had descended. The stridulating chirp of crickets soon after was almost a relief.
After walking for several minutes without success, I threaded my fingers into my hair. “Okay, Andie. Where are you?”
I consulted my phone again. No reception.
Tracking back a second time, I stared at the slapped tree. Was this actually it?
Maybe I should just sit here and wait.
Oh! My phone had a compass app. At least I could be methodical about my search.
The woman had called this side the south team. Assuming that meant we’d entered from the south, I had to walk north to find the clearing.
Theoretically.
Selecting a dead branch, I leaned it against my starting tree. Not to brag, but my old Girl Guide sash was covered with badges. If a person wanted a knot tied, I was their girl.
“Be prepared,” I told the trees, holding up my hand in the Girl Guide salute.
The problem had to be that I wasn’t walking far enough before turning back. If the moon wasn’t full tonight and I didn’t have these bug lens things, I’d be too scared to move.
“From the top,” I said, teeth gritted as I set off north again.
I was never telling anyone about this.
The crickets cut off and I froze.
Hundreds of people ran into this forest an hour ago, but it was night, and—yep—my imagination was in the driver’s seat. The crowd probably scared off the wild animals with their passing, but I shouldn’t take any chances.
Sinking into a crouch, I placed my back to the nearest tree.
Crack.
My heart thumped. Something was fucking out there.
I pressed a palm against my mouth, trying not to scrape against the tree as I leaned forward to look.
The moonlight beamed down on the man. Clad in dark jeans and a flannel shirt, he wore hiking boots but barely made a sound on the pine needles.