The animals in the dense forest suddenly scattered in all directions, panicked and screeching as if something terrible had just happened.

Birds exploded out of the trees, wings flapping frantically as they shot up toward the sky.

It was like something monstrous had just crashed into the woods-a predator, a disaster, something that sent every living thing running.

Tarquin, Elliot, Evan, and Elijah all frowned in unison, tense and alert.

Even the big guy with the scarred face-usually impossible to rattle-was glancing around warily, brows knit.

Elysia pulled Emmett and Baby close, her whole body stiff with worry.

The air felt charged with danger, every shadow hiding a possible threat.

Suddenly-thwup!

A muffled gunshot echoed through the forest. Someone was using a silencer.

A flash of color tumbled from above-a brilliantly plumed bird dropped out of the sky and landed right at their feet.

yellows, the kind you'd only see in rare nature documentaries. But its head... its head was just gone. A bloody

stared, eyes

Tarquin's neck, burying her face so she

panic written

movement in the distance. Tarquin's eyes narrowed. "We need

shot, it

covered with tall, wild grass offered the perfect place to duck out

hustled Elysia and the kids behind the grass,

scrambling up the nearest tree and vanishing into the

like he wanted to follow-higher ground meant a better view-but Tarquin placed a

voice, Tarquin asked Elysia, "Do your grandparents

to put food on the table, but a bird like that? Never. Grandpa would never

their place. Strangers shouldn't be out here, not

in by accident, Grandpa and Grandma would find a way to send them back out. They'd never let outsiders hang around, much less

was here for all the

face darkened, but before he could answer, a group of men in camo gear and baseball caps came striding out

up to the dead bird, picked it up, and

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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