Chapter 121. Hide and Seek

Eliana

Minutes turned to hours. Every heartbeat became a loud reminder of the danger—the doom—that awaited us. Every second without a word or news from Susie felt like a bloody century.

“This is beautiful.”

Someone exclaimed from behind me.

“Whose painting is this?”

For an exclamation like that, it had to be a splendid piece of art. I smiled, willing myself to turn around, but I was too tense to do anything other than worry.

“Eliana, it’s yours,” Paige gasped.

No way. I mean, I was not bad at painting, but—

“If you would just turn around for a moment,” Paige whispered.

“That is Eliana Garcia’s painting. She’s over there,” I heard Xavier say. I had not realized he had arrived.

A silver-haired old woman walked over to me with a huge smile on her face. She looked genuinely happy to see me, her eyes bright with joy. That was the exact sort of reaction an artist prays their work will receive. I forced a smile.

“You