Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 271 Lisa: To Safety

LISA

Eventually, there's nothing else I can help the nurses with, and I wander back to the table. It's been hours. We came to the farmhouse in the early morning, and now it's well past noon. Aside from a few packages of crackers and some water from the sink, my belly's empty.

My stomach growls. The crackers and water did little to satisfy my hunger.

The Grand Sage speaks to Ryder, his voice low but clear. "The problem isn't with the individual phones. They're fine, but the networks are all corrupted. They aren't communicating properly. From what I can tell, it's all hacked. Someone's taken control."

"So…" Ryder takes his phone with a sigh. "It won't be fixed anytime soon."

"Correct."

The Grand Sage hands Chloe and Mia back their phones. The two women exchange a glance before leaving after a brief word from Ryder. Something about their interaction feels off, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

While the Grand Sage and Ryder continue discussing, curiosity gets the better of me. I slip outside, thankful that I'm not particularly noticeable.

A cool breeze brushes against my cheeks as I watch Chloe part ways with Mia. To my surprise, Chloe doesn't head back to wherever she came from. Instead, she steps behind a nearby building.

I frown, inching closer. What is she doing?

From my vantage point, I can see Chloe tapping away at her phone. It's strange—didn't the Grand Sage just explain that no cell phones are getting a signal? Yet here she is, acting like everything's normal.

My heart races as I watch her bring the phone to her ear. I strain to hear what she's saying, but she's too far away. I take a step closer, leaves crunching under my feet.

Chloe's head snaps up, and I duck behind a bush. When I peek out again, she's ending the call, her movements quick and furtive.

Something's not right here.

I make my way back to the farmhouse, my mind whirling. As soon as I spot the Grand Sage, I sidle up to him, keeping my voice low. "I just saw something strange," I murmur, relaying what I witnessed outside.

"I've already reported the matter to the delta," he says, his eyes darting around the

noticing for the first time that Ryder's no longer here. The room feels emptier now, with only the injured and the nurses

down at the bracelet he gave me

air is rent with shouts. My blood runs cold as I recognize the sound—a sound that's

Battle cries.

stomach twists, fear and adrenaline coursing through

instant, the Grand Sage and Elverly are at my side. Their hands close around my arms, and I'm being hustled out the back door of the

"You expected this?"

I saw

the barn, our

can't help but look back. The sight that greets me is like something out of a nightmare. All around, able-bodied shifters are locked in combat with a seemingly endless stream of attackers. But it's not their opponents

contorted with rage. It's like watching the world tear at the seams, reality giving way to something I can't even begin

snaps

from the battle and focus on putting one foot

barn. The Grand Sage and Elverly flank me, their urgency palpable in the air. We burst through the

by a string of muttered curses. I whirl around, my

dozen of them, racing towards us with inhuman speed. Their faces are twisted into snarls,

me out of

contraption, my hands shaking as I reach for the top hatch. It feels like

it feels like the most welcoming place in the world. I press myself against the far wall, making room for Elverly as she practically dives in

my eyes fixed on the opening. Where's the Grand Sage? He was

heavily, his eyes wild with fear and determination. With a grunt, he squeezes

whole body trembles, and I have to bite my lip to keep from screaming. This is

going back

buttons and levers. I don't understand what he's doing, but I pray to whatever higher power might be listening that it

to close,

pale face pops over, red

breath catches in my throat, and I squeeze my

a resounding clang as the hatch