Witness: See Series (Volume 1)(74)

“Willow?” she said.

Madison quickly broke her stare with the distance and noticed that the door was open for the first time.

“Um…,” I said, trying to understand how this woman could have mistaken Madison so quickly for another girl. Willow...Willow...wasn’t that the name of Landen’s soulmate?

“I’m Charlie, and this is Madison. We’re sorry to bother you.”

The woman looked carefully over Madison, and her eyes settled on the Ankh tattoo on her wrist. The woman’s gaze obviously made Madison uncomfortable because she hid her arms behind her back.

“But you’re Willow – everyone is looking for you. Are you OK?” the woman said as she stepped out on the porch and reached her hands for Madison’s shoulders.

“Look, sorry – you’re confused. I’m Madison,” she said as she stepped away from the woman’s hands.

I could see the doubt in the woman’s eyes and how uncomfortable Madison was becoming.

“Is Austin here?” I asked.

The woman looked back at me. “He’s in Esterious with all of the other travelers – like I said, looking for Willow.”

“There are no travelers here?” I asked, feeling defeated.

The woman sympathetically shook her head no. Then her eyes widened. “Charlie – like Draven, Aden, and Charlie?” she asked.

“Yeah, that’s us – with Madison,” I said, nodding to my side.

“How did you get here?” the woman asked, looking behind us.

“We are – we aren’t really here; long story. Listen, I need you to tell Austin or anyone else you know that travels to come for us.”

“Are you OK?” the woman asked, pushing the door open, wanting us to come in.

“Sorry, we don’t have time. We’re fine, at least for now. I just need to make sure Draven is in a safe place - before it’s too late.”

“The second I see him or anyone else, I’ll tell him,” the woman promised. “He adores all of you so much. He was so sad when he couldn’t get you to come here.”

“That was my fault. I thought I could handle what we were going though; I’m not so sure anymore,” I said, looking down.

The woman stepped out on the porch and pointed in the direction that Madison was staring in before. “Landen is just over that hill. That’s his home. Maybe he or his grandfather can help you. I just saw them not too long ago. Hurry if you don’t have much time.”

“Over there?” I asked, pointing again.

“Yes, I’ll make some calls – do whatever I can to send help.”

Madison shook her head. “We’re fine. Sounds like you guys have bigger problems than us.”

I was instantly furious that Madison had downplayed what we were going through; maybe I should have told her about Silas.

“Nonsense. There isn’t one soul more important than another. I’ll send help,” the woman said as she rushed back into the house.

“Why are you trying to sabotage my way out?” I said as I rushed down the stairs and started walking in the direction the woman had told me to go. I had made it to the top of the hill before I felt Madison’s arm holding me back.

“Charlie, seriously, they’re missing Willow. There can’t be two Willows – that’s Landen’s Willow. We can handle this on our own; let them fight their battles.”

“You’re just freaked out because that woman called you Willow.”

“That’s not it. I can feel the grief, Charlie – this far away. It’s bad...whatever happened – it’s not good,” she said, looking away from me.

“Listen to me – those honey eyes you dreamed of? They belong to a guy named Silas, a guy that says that I loved him in another life and that if Draven or Britain try and take my so-called power – he’ll end them because that’s what he’s meant to do. Britain basically promised me that he would have no other choice but to take it – soon, very soon. I don’t want them to die.”

Her emerald green eyes grew wide. “What else are you not saying, Charlie?”

“We can talk about it later. Right now, I have to make sure I can get Draven to people that can help him...I can’t lose him, Madison.”

“Fine,” she said as she let out a jagged breath and let my arm go. I almost ran to the next hilltop. In the distance, I could see a home. It was two stories, rustic brick with white porches. On the top balcony was a young man. I couldn’t make out his features, but from this distance I swear I could see the grief that Madison was talking about. He was leaning forward, staring out into the field in front of his house at the large white windmills that were spread across the field in the distance.

Around his home, countless jeeps were parked. Several people were on the porch, surrounding the house. Upon seeing this, I instantly lost my nerve and froze in place.

An older man stepped out on the balcony the young man was on and stretched his arm around him, obviously consoling him.

“Maybe you’re right,” I mumbled as Madison came breathlessly to my side.

At that moment, I heard the most innocent voice in creation say my name: “Charlie.”

I turned to see who had said it and saw a precious little boy behind me. His hair was sandy blond and curly, long, almost hiding the most alluring color of blue his eyes reflected.