Glancing back at the girls still trapped in the bus, I let my phone fall to the ground—and ran.
Time was running out. I had to get out of this town before anyone realized what I was really doing.
Using the leftover money from Peter, I flagged down a taxi.
The driver took one look at me and smiled, “Heading to the college entrance exam, miss? I’ll get you there fast.”
My hand froze mid-motion, just as I was about to shut the car door.
I glanced at him—then bolted.
Startled, the driver jumped out and chased after me for a few steps, shouting my way.
When I didn’t turn around, he gave up and hurried back to start the engine again.
“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, ducking into a nearby alley.
I could hear him behind me, cursing and making a phone call as he gave chase.
I dove behind a trash can and crouched low, pretending to be a beggar. My heart pounded as people passed by.
“I heard a student taking the college entrance exam went missing,” one passerby said. “Now the entire town’s police, firefighters, and volunteers are out looking. It’s a huge operation!”
“Did the student get kidnapped?” another asked. “Human traffickers are getting out of hand these days!”
The town was being searched from top to bottom.
I moved through the city, constantly switching hiding spots. I had close calls—too many.
I knew I couldn’t keep this up for long.
Taking a gamble, I made my way into the mountains.
Woodstock had eighteen villages, and if there was one thing it didn’t lack, it was mountains. Endless stretches of rugged terrain, spanning thousands of miles.
But the townspeople were quick to respond. I hadn’t even been hiding in the mountains for three hours when I saw their searchlights.
From my position up high, I watched the long line of lights weaving through the woods below. Quietly, I pulled a thin flashlight from my backpack—no thicker than a finger—and used it to guide my way down.
No one knew that while they searched the mountains, I was already slipping back into town.
The trash cans were disgusting, but I needed food. I had to keep my strength up if I wanted to survive.
Just as I was digging through one bin and pulled out half of a baked donut, a familiar voice called from behind me.
“Camila?”
My whole body went stiff.
I turned slowly. Luna stood there, her face frozen in disbelief.
I narrowed my eyes and pulled her quickly into a nearby alley.