Kayden’s POV
My eyes lit up at that sudden news from Mantha, sure enough, the bus looked suspicious.
“Go after the bus! Right away!” I ordered and everyone ran out of the building with I and Mantha following.
“Why the hell did I not think about it? Such a huge bus… What could it have sought for to come to this desolated place?” I asked Jay.
I drove the car myself because I was just so sure that the driver would not go fast enough. I drove speedily through the desolate streets, glancing at Mantha to make sure she wasn’t frightened at the speed I was going with.
Her face was that of mixed expressions, sadness and anger clouded her face but fear was something that was missing.
I drove around the whole area but we could not find the bus, it just seemed like it just disappeared from nowhere.
I stopped the car and hit my head against the steering.
“Don’t…. don’t hurt yourself,” Mantha said to me, her voice still cracking from the tears she had shed earlier.
“The cracking of her voice makes me feel more and more miserable, if only I was good enough, she would not have lost her granny,” I said.
“It’s not entirely your fault. We had no idea that this was what was happening.” Jay replied and I stepped out of the car.
The other cars that were following too had all stopped.
“Spread out onto every street in this freaking place! I want that bus brought to me!” I ordered.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Everyone scampered about the place while I just threw my head backwards. I was frustrated with the turnout of events.
“It’s okay, I know we are going to find them,” Mantha said to me, touching my shoulder gently.
“I know, I am okay. And you? Are you okay? Look, I… I am sorry about your granny.” I said to her.
“It… It’s okay,” she mumbled but her eyes told me that it was not okay, nothing was okay yet.
I pulled her into a warm embrace and patted her back while she shed more tears, I could feel her sadness, I could feel her pains. I know just how it feels to lose someone you love so I know how she must be feeling right now.
“I am here for you,” I said to her and kissed her forehead.
“Thank you, Kay,” she mumbled and snuggled closer to me.
I wanted to get to do something but I knew that I could not just leave Mantha right now, she was still down and I had to spend some time with her before I attempt to leave.
“I… I am okay now,” she mumbled and pulled away from the hug.
“We… We should get something done too. Granny would not love to see lazing around.” she said to me and I nodded.
“I should get some things done but you… You should stay here Mantha, I would have some guys watch you. I don’t want you to get hurt.” I said to her but the pout on her face showed that she was going to have none of it.
“No Kayden, I have to go too.”
“But…..”
“Don’t you think I am strong enough?” She asked.
“Of course you are strong, I know you are but you are still mourning your granny,” I replied her.
“No, I am going to help you find them all. No one knows them as much as I do.” she insisted and I sighed softly.
“Okay, Mantha but you have to stay just by my side,” I said to her and she nodded repeatedly.
“Let’s try checking if there’s a CCTV camera here,” I said to her.
“So smart,” she replied me and we both walked around the place.
We had no issue searching even in the nights because of our eyes but then no matter how long we walked and searched, there was no trace of any cameras.
‘”They are smart enough to pick a place without any cameras. Desolate areas like this sure won’t have so many security measures.” I pointed out.
“Those jerks!” Mantha seethed and I quickly threw my hand over her shoulder.
“We are going to get them, I assure you,” I said to her and she nodded, her angry face going soft.
“Hey, how is everything going?” I asked the gamma.
“Alpha Kayden, I don’t have any good news yet, there is nothing in these streets, no bus, some of our men have gone farther from these streets, they have gone into town already but there is no good news yet,” he replied.
“Shit! Okay… Just make sure the next time you report to me, you have good news or you might get those silly men of yours killed!” I seethed for a moment before taking a deep breath.
My anger and rage were taking over my cool.
“No one is allowed to go back to his or her home until that bus is found. I don’t care if you are going to spend days or weeks here, find that bus.” I ordered and ended the mind link.
“Is everything okay?” Mantha asked me and I mentally took a deep breath before turning to her with a fake and forced smile.
“Everything is under control,” I said to her, patting her hair lovingly.
“You sure? I can feel your anger and rage Kay,” she replied.
“That was just me losing control for a moment, everything is okay now,” I said to her and looked forward before she would probe me with more questions.
“What else are we going to do?” She asked me.
“For now, you do nothing but have a bit of rest. After that, we would set to go back home and explain all these to dad and mum, they can help out too.” I replied her.
“You mean we are done here?” She asked and I slowly nodded.
Samantha’s POV
“No, we should not be done here yet. What about the bus?” I asked him, searching his eyes.
“I still have my guys here, they would continue the search till we come back here more prepared,” he replied.
“That sounds like a good thing to do,” Cara said to me and I slowly nodded since both Cara and Kay thought it was cool to do so.
“Let’s get you into the car,” Kay said and we were about to walk away when I heard a shrill cry.
I turned around and Kay did the same, he heard that too.
“Who is there?” I called out and the cry came again, this time even weaker.
I turned and rushed towards the direction of the cry along with Kay.
There I met her, her body was badly battered already, she was already on the verge of death but her face was a bit familiar.
“Clarice!” I gasped, remembering her.
She was one of the two girls that joined us when I was a slave, one of the two girls I shared my food with.
“Sa… Sama….” She struggled to call my name but she could not.
I held her bloody and battered hands gently in mine.
“Kay… Look for help… get help,” I said, not looking away from Clarice.
“They… They left.” she managed to say and I nodded.
“Yes, they did, I know… Now don’t say a word anymore, keep your strength.” I said to her.
“They went to….. They…” At this point, my curiosity had grown and I stared at her hoping to hear the address of where they took the slaves too.
“They went to Me…..” Her hands dropped from mine and her eyes closed.
“Clarice! Clarice!” I shook her body but it was useless.
She was dead! Gone along with the information she knew!