Chapter 32. Scent Trails and Prey

Carla barged into the house like a hurricane made up of fear and anxiety and soon found herself held in a worried Mark's comforting arms.

"What happened? Why is your heart beating so fast," he demanded as he kept her in his awkward hug, his large hand gently stroking her back.

"She's gone," Carla revealed with a small shudder, pulling back so she could stare up into dark greens.

"That was always the plan," Mark reminded Carla with a confused scrunch of his brows. Then his eyes trailed down to Stephanie's bag clutched to her chest, and his face fell.

"What happened?" He asked again, but it was clear he had some idea by the grave look on his face.

"She wasn't there when I arrived and her host mum said she stepped out a couple of hours ago and hasn't been back since. Plus, the dagger, the map and the journal are missing from her things." She ended her tirade with an emphasising shake of Stephanie's knapsack.

"That sounds worrying."

"It's worse