Shadows In Durango

Chapter 87

*****Sofia's POV*****

I bounce down the steps behind Emma, us both still giggling at a story she had just told me about Reid falling over when they had gone ice skating on Monday night...

We stop at the bottom step, before seeing Vincent walk out of the living area from down the hallway with Daryl and Reid following out from behind his back. "Where are you two going?!" Vincent deadpans, as I eye him weirdly, wondering why he had an attitude all of a sudden.

Wasn't it obvious?

"School? Where else?" I state the words as though he should have known that already, as Emma sniggers slightly from beside me.

I mean, we were both stood in front of him at twenty past eight with backpacks on? It was a no brainer?

Vincent looked troubled, and I had hoped that he would have calmed down after a good nights sleep but it didn't seem to be that easy...

We were back home now in our comfort zone, surrounded by our friends and far away from the city that posed so many threats... so why was he still on edge?

Had he perhaps found out more about the people who posted the envelope through the door? There must be something that he isn't telling me, but my mind could only work overtime to think up the endless possibilities of what it could be. "I'll drive them there." Daryl offers, as Vincent seems to think on it for a split second, as though Daryl needed to get his permission first to take us to school.

What is seriously going on with them?!

"Are you three not coming in to school today?" Emma squints, as they all just seem to stand around like fish out of water - creating a bubble of awkwardness around this whole conversation - with none of them knowing what to do or say.

"You two go, and I'll just stay here to catch up on some work stuff today." Vincent's eyes are telling, as Daryl and Reid seem to know exactly what he meant by that as they both nod nonchalantly and sigh.

bags and keys, as Vincent stands before us in

as he

about right now..." He pushes out a tight smile, but

will tell me soon? Or at least I hope he will to

the door with Emma at

whispers, as I agree with her, feeling suddenly relieved that I wasn't the

settled in after that strange encounter. Emma and I exchange a glance, and

darken with each passing minute which made him almost hard to bear when he was like this. Whatever he was hiding, it wasn't just some minor issue this all felt

didn't know what was going

a little more relaxed compared to Vincent's, but the tension was very much still there, lurking beneath the

to the front beside him and

usual carefree tone was missing, replaced by something more serious. Sure, things had been weird between us recently, but I had hoped that Daryl would get over it quick with us being home now... especially since he had picked

comes to life, gaining my attention as I look down to see that it was a text from Emma

curiously, I swipe to open

a weird ass morning! Even Reid is acting off

and

Maybe we just need some time apart at school for everyone to think straight?' I

drive is filled with nothing but the sound of Daryl and Reid's forced small talk about going to look for a

road. "Alright, what the hell is going on?" I finally blurt

if he's waiting for him to take the lead but Reid just shrugs, clearly not planning

us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter

Daryl starts carefully, "there's just a lot going on with Vincent right now. It's... complicated. None of us can discuss it yet, but I'm sure he will tell you later when the time is right." Daryl

be?!" I press on further, my frustration bubbling to the surface for the first time in a long time. "I can tell something's wrong, and it's not just 'work