Chapter 1307
“Anything else p>
“No matter where I go, my heart will always be with Zhinora p>
The little guy’s voice rang out, strong and proud. Walter nodded, serious as ever. “Good kid! You’re gonna do great things someday, you know that p>
But right then, the one crying the hardest was Emmett.
Emmett was always the emotional one, tears streaming down his cheeks as he clung to Quincy’s neck, holding on like he’d never let go.
Quincy’s eyes were shining with unshed tears, voice trembling as he spoke,
“Emmett, remember what I told you. Stay true to your art, keep your feet on the ground. Art is the soul of our country-loving your homeland is an artist’s duty.” “Love your country above all else p>
Emmett nodded so hard he was practically shaking,
“I—I remember! Love… love your country above all else p>
Quincy could barely get the words out, his voice thick, “Good… good p>
After saying their goodbyes to Elysia and the kids, a group of old folks pulled Tarquin aside for a private chat.
No one knew what they talked about, but Tarquin’s brow stayed furrowed the whole time.
It was a while before they finally split up. The elders stood on the hill, watching as Tarquin, Elysia, and the kids made their way down the slope, not turning back- afraid that if they did, they’d never be able to leave.
Tarquin was lost in thought p>
He still didn’t really know why all these elders had faked their deaths and holed up together in the middle of nowhere. But he couldn’t shake a bad feeling p>
It was like these mountains were an invisible iron cage, keeping these brilliant minds trapped, never letting them go free.
From the things the elders said, it was obvious-they wanted to leave, but for some reason, they couldn’t.
What were they so worried about? With a lineup like this, who could possibly threaten them? What force could keep these legends contained?
Reinet
And why did they say Gerald and Howard would never come back? Was it that once you left, you couldn’t return? Or had something happened to them out there?
“Ahhh p>
Suddenly, Emmett’s startled scream snapped Tarquin out of his thoughts.
He looked over to see Emmett, eyes wide with terror, staring across the lake like he’d seen a ghost.
Tarquin
owed his gaze, his own
he
brow knitting tight. Instantly, Baby’s eyes, scooping both
covered
t and Baby up in his arms.
“Both of you-eyes shut, now p>
Elysia, confused and worried, started to glance across the lake, but Tarquin called out,
“Elysia, just keep walking! Don’t look back p>
He motioned to the other three kids, “Let’s go, hurry p>
Elliot, Evan, and Elijah had already seen whatever it was. Their eyes were huge,
mouths hanging open in shock. Even Evan looked stunned.
The scar-faced old man saw it too, his gaze sharpening with suspicion.
White, the snake, opened its sleepy eyes, took one look, and shivered shooting Evan a nervous tongue flick before slithering away toward the lake.
Evan’s little face scrunched up in confusion. He turned to Elysia.
“Mom, you guys go on ahead. I need to pee. I’ll catch up p>
The scar-faced old man watched Evan chasing after White, clearly not comfortable letting him go alone, and followed.
Elysia, anxious, started to protest, but Tarquin reassured her,
“White’s with him, and so is his uncle. He’ll be fine. We should keep moving p>
Elysia was torn—curious, but scared. She wanted to know what they’d seen, but
she was terrified it was something out of a horror film.
She peeked over at Tarquin and the kids, voice trembling,
“What… what did you guys see over there p>