Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 169

Abby

My heart’s practically pounding out of my chest as we park the car, hidden behind a veil of trees. The forest feels even more thick and suffocating now than it did on the day that we came here to go mushroom hunting, now that I know what actually lies behind the mist.

Karl takes a moment to study the map I had snatched from him last night, his fingers tracing the uneven, ink-smeared lines.

“Ready?” he asks, his eyes meeting mine.

“As I’ll ever be,” I reply, grabbing my bag from the backseat. Karl locks the car, and we head off, stepping into the dense foliage, guided only by the soft morning light filtering through the trees.

For a few minutes, we walk in complete silence. The stillness is comforting in its own eerie way, but I’m too focused on our mission to let my mind wander too far.

“Okay,” Karl whispers at one point, stopping in his tracks. “We have to be extra careful from here on out. We’re nearing their territory. If you want to stop, now’s your chance.”

I’m suddenly aware of every single sound around us, every whispering leaf, every chirping bird, as though nature itself is warning us to turn back. But I can’t; not now. Not ever. I shake my head, leveling my gaze with Karl’s.

“I want to do this. Let’s continue.”

Karl, after shooting me one last worried look, moves with a stealth I didn’t know he possessed. I follow closely behind, treading lightly, taking care not to snap a twig or rustle leaves too loudly.

“Cameras, at 2 o’clock,” he hisses, gesturing with his chin. I glance in that direction and see the telltale signs: small black domes, almost camouflaged against the greenery. My heart skips a beat.

“We can skirt around them,” he whispers, taking the lead as we adjust our path. “Keep low.”

I lower my body, feeling the damp earth seep into my jeans. We creep forward, the weight of our every move amplified by the silence. I hold my breath as we cross the camera’s line of sight. Once past, I exhale softly, my breath quivering in relief.