Fractured by N.O Darling

Chapter 288

Mason’s POV**

Luke has just suggested a terrifying, very possible theory. How the fuck do we find someone underground? How do we even get in there without risking collapsing the cave below us?

I’d quite happily start removing the ground from below each of the places that have been searched, but I could bury my daughter alive by doing that.

“Wouldn’t the women and children we captured have told us if they’d been living underground?” Theo asks.

“Not if they didn’t know about it, or had been compelled. This group doesn’t seem to prioritise the safety of women and children; Otherwise, they wouldn’t have left them unguarded as they did. They could very well be hiding the strongest and most important of them underground,” Raff explains.

“Fuck!” I curse, my fingers twitch with the need to destroy something, but I can’t risk collapsing this place until we have found what we are looking for.

Luke comforts Josie as she reacts to the news, something I should be doing, but I’m too worked up, I’d only make her feel worse.

Robert finishes emptying the trunk, finding nothing that he seems interested in, before pushing it out of the way. Then he gets on his knees and begins digging in the dirt with his hands.

“What are you doing?” Axe asks

“He would keep his most precious items hidden, they will likely be close, but out of sight,” Robert says as he digs,

with determination.

“Move back,” I sigh. I can move the dirt much faster than him.

“Oh, that’s right, you have a molecular manipulation gift,” Robert says, and I shoot a worried glance at Deacon. How could he have forgotten that so quickly? Is the tumour affecting his memory?

I focus on the ground where he had been digging and slowly moving the earth, opening up a deep cavern in the ground.

“Try here,” Robert says, pointing to another spot on the ground.

made and open up another where he

you sure it’s here?” Josie asks.

once. I’m just trying to remember where exactly,” Robert says, screwing his eyes

was as paranoid as he seemed, it’s likely he didn’t bury it in the same place every time. Let’s just search the whole place,”

ready to search every

is out of my way I move the dirt effortlessly, revealing nothing. I return the earth

it before he died, or someone else knew its location and came

+25 BONUS

Chapter 288

the walls,” Robert says, and i shrug before slowly moving the dirt

in

dissolve a barrier that was separating this space

same size.

the cavern, cluttered with all sorts of trinkets, books

Raff breathes as everyone surges forward

of what looks like delicate leather but

handwritten and as he flicks through the pages

Luke asks, drawing everyone’s attention back

a fancy–looking wooden box. He opens it to reveal an iron branding rod and four small glass vials containing what I assume are the powdered gemstones he

you think is important, and I’ll have the rest collected and brought back to

group scramble to collect paperwork and books before we

work, looking for anything that might be able to narrow down a location for the

Luke and Robert are ready to leave the moment we find something.” Raff suggests when it’s clear the task of

Η

we watch the iron brand heat up in

won’t sugarcoat it for him. It’s going to hurt like a

“Awesome,” he sighs.

want me to hold your hand?” I ask

still? I’m not sure

do that,” I nod, deciding not