Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Chapter 210

Xena's POV

"We're just getting started, Ryder said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. “Keep sorting those photos, and Ell let you know immediately if I find anything."

"Fine," I replied, picking up another photograph and beginning to trim it. My movements were noticeably slower than before, my fingers trembling slightly as the scissors glided along the edge of the photo. My heart still pounded in my chest, a constant reminder of the danger we were all in.

The printer finally stopped its endless whirring, bringing a small sense of relief. Ama looked much better after downing some Gatorade and forcing down a little food. I wasn't entirely convinced she should be eating, but at least some color had returned to her face. That was something.

I grabbed the next photo in the stack and began trimming it to fit perfectly with the others, making sure there was no overlap. Just as I was about to make the final cut, something caught my eye-a face partially visible behind a tree. The features looked

disturbingly familiar. An icy chill' crawled up my spine, and my fingers froze mid- snip.

"William..." My voice carried unmistakable worry.

.0

"What is it?" William immediately moved to my side, concern etched on his face. Look at this. I handed him the partially cut photo, my hand unsteady.

"That's a head," William confirmed, studying the image carefully. The picture showed me running, with Ryder beside me. How had we not noticed someone lurking behind those trees?

"It looks like someone specific, doesn't it?" I pressed, a note of urgency creeping into my voice. I needed confirmation that I wasn't the only one seeing this.

“I'm not sure.......” William frowned, squinting at the photograph.

"Ama, does this look like someone to you?" I took the photo back from William and passed it to Ama. She narrowed her eyes, then they suddenly widened in recognition.

Her voice was barely

my heart hammering against my ribs. This couldn't be coincidence. "Same face shape, and that half-smile

agreed,

to put us on alert," I said, staring at the face in the photo. A sense of foreboding settled in my stomach like a heavy stone. If it really

"A stranger... just twenty feet away from you and Ryder.

territory. By the

the location with growing

where

distract him from his current mission. We were

1/3

Chapter 210

answered after & moment's

they found that location? Ama asked, fidgeting

replied without elaborating, which only heightened my

through our mental link, trying to keep my

His response came immediately. He sounded lightly out of breath, which made my

you found anything?" I asked

some people to see where it leads. I'm heading to the other location you discovered,

only had a tree to go on. It could be anywhere," I said,

people with sonar to do a complete ground scan. They'll look for cavities to find

"This is bad.

the photos?" Ryder asked, his voice firm but

more to go through," I

not, you can start looking through

until you get back?" I hated sounding needy, but I genuinely wanted him beside me right