Page 76 of The Chosen
No indication anyone had been here at all.
Even the frogs and insects seemed strangely quiet.
I slowly rose to my full height, and pulled my gun from its holster as I started toward the stables. My eyes swept across rooftops, corners, and fence posts for any sign of a security camera.
Nothing.
Which only increased my suspicion that something wasn’t right.
As I approached the stable, I noticed the door hanging slightly open, nothing but darkness spilling from the gap. I pressed my body against the exterior wall, listening for movement. Voices. Anything.
And again, there was nothing.
I took a moment to prepare myself for whatever I was about to walk in on. Then I raised my gun and pushed the door open.
The hinges groaned loudly, easily alerting anyone to my presence.
But I was met with only silence.
I kept my gun at the ready, shining my flashlight over each stall I passed. Each one was empty except for the occasional beer can and used condom. Evidence people had been here at some point, just not recently. Still, I continued moving toward where Ariana was supposed to be, dread tightening my stomach with each step I took, my boots echoing against the concrete.
When I turned the corner into the last stall, every muscle in my body gave out.
Because it was empty…
Except for small metallic object lying in a puddle of blood.
For several long seconds, I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t move. The entire world narrowed to that tiny piece of metal lying on the ground.
I was too late.
Just like with Spencer.
Just like with my mother.
I doubled over, a strangled cry tearing from my throat, the sound reverberating around me, reminding me of everything I’d lost.
Again.
Yanking my cell from my pants, I hit Blake’s contact. His voice came over the line almost instantly.
“Did you find her?” The hope in his voice nearly broke me.
“She’s not here.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I fucking said, Blake. She’s not here. The only thing here is her fucking tracker. And a pool of blood. Fuck! She’s gone. She’s gone, and it’s my fucking fault.”
“It’s not your fault. Just try to stay calm.”
“Stay calm.” I barked out a laugh. “Right.”
“Take a minute and look around. See if he left anything behind that might help. Anything at all.”
I wanted to tell him it was useless, but forced myself to shine my flashlight over the space. Nothing stood out. Dirt. Hay. Food wrappers. The only thing that looked like it didn’t belong was Ariana’s tracker and the blood. But I did as Blake asked, noticing a small trail of blood leading from the stall where I found the tracker and out the large barn doors. I opened them up, seeing a pair of tire marks in the dirt.
But tire marks wouldn’t help me find Ariana.
