Chapter 1250
But… this place is supposed to be completely off the grid. How did this rough bunch of men even find it?
Grandma and Grandpa were always so gentle and kind-they’d never hang out with people like this!
Elysia and the kids were marched into the old wooden cabin.
The moment the gate creaked open, all four of them-mother and sons-were swept up by a rush of emotions: joy, nerves, even a bit of dread.
They’d lived here for five whole years.
Elliot, Evan, and Emmett-this was where they’d grown up.
It was in this very place that the three brothers learned to talk, to walk, to do all sorts of things p>
This cabin held just about every flavor of memory for them-sweet, bitter, and everything in between.
Mostly sweet, with the occasional sting.
So as soon as they stepped inside, memories came flooding back. They couldn’t help but feel excited and happy.
But… where were Grandma and Grandpa?
Normally, the second they came home, the grandparents would be the first at the door, arms open, faces beaming with delight.
Why weren’t they coming out? Why wasn’t anyone welcoming them home?
And why were there suddenly so many armed strangers in the yard?
Who were these men, and what were they doing in Grandma and Grandpa’s house? What was their connection?
Elysia and her three boys were torn-half flooded with relief, half gripped by worry for the older couple.
They ached to see Grandma and Grandpa, but none of them dared call out, afraid of what might have happened.
Tarquin and little Elijah, though they’d never been here before, could sense something was off with the four of them.
It clicked: this must have been their home once.
Tarquin and Elijah were uneasy too. Why had these men brought them here? Did they know the old folks? Or had they taken over the place?
Had something happened to Grandma and Grandpa?
All seven of them were weighed down by dread.
Closest to the gate stood a small two-story cabin-Bernard’s place.
Bernard was a big fan of martial arts, and he was good at it. He’d always taken the room nearest the entrance to keep everyone safe.
Suddenly, with a loud creak, a window on the second floor swung open.
Elysia’s heart leapt she thought it was Bernard. She looked up, hope shining in her eyes.
But-
Instead of a familiar face, there was a scowling stranger glaring down at them.
“Didn’t I send you guys out to work? What are you doing back so soon? Did you catch any “
He broke off, noticing Tarquin and the others. His eyes narrowed.
“Who are they p>
The man leading their group quickly piped up:
“Brock, we ran into them on the trail. They were lost-family out here for summer break, got turned around in the woods. We brought them back, you know, just being neighborly. And look, there’s a real beauty with them p>
in
He winked up at the second-floor man, eager to please.
Brock-if that was his name-looked down at Elysia, licking his lips, Adam’s apple bobbing.
“Bring the woman up here. I’ll talk to her myself. Lock the rest up for now p>
Tarquin’s eyes narrowed-he knew exactly what Brock had in mind.
He was just about to make a move when suddenly, another man burst in, stumbling and out of breath.
“Brock! Brock! It’s bad-something’s
happened! We ran into a wild man! Some of our guys got hurt real bad Brock told me to comeget help p>
Wild man?
The whole family stared. Even Brock looked thrown.
“What wild man p>
“I swear, Brock! He had centipedes
crawling all over his face-Set
the hell out of us! He was so didn’t even get a shot off p>
we
sw
“You gotta come quick—if you’re late, Brock might get ripped to shreds by that lunatic p>
Centipedes on his face?
No, not a wild man-just the scarred tough guy from before.
The family of seven put it together. No need to wonder anymore. They kept their
heads down and stayed quiet.