Shadows and Sanctuary.

Luca's P.O.V

The older lady finally left me alone in the room.

But not without showing me the bathroom, how to use the shower and the closet.

She also gave me a number to call when I get hungry and I want my food to be brought in.

I wasn't really expecting the place to have a shower, but then it's too my own advantage.

After settling down, and having my bath.

I decided to call the number the woman gave me so I had to turn on my phone.

As soon as my phone came on.

It started to buzz with a lot of notifications.

My mom had left tons of voicemails. In some, she was pleading with me, and in some, she was throwing empty threats.

I sighed, as I wiped all the notifications out, without any intent of replying or calling back.

I inputed the number, the older woman gave me.

She said it was going to ring straight to the kitchen. And within minutes, whatever I wanted to eat would be brought to my room.

And she was right.

Because after the first ring a lady picked, after exchanging pleasantries.

"Sire, what would you want to have for dinner?" She asked straight away.

Is it already that late, I thought to myself, as I glanced at the clock. It was 6:30pm.

"What do you have on the menu?" I asked.

She then mentioned a few Italian dishes and some other intercontinental dishes.

I was quiet for a while. "Is pasta available?" I asked with a shrug.

"Yes. We have that as well, but won't that be too light for dinner?"

She asked, seemly concerned.

"Don't worry ma'am, Pasta is fine." I said assuring her.

It would be brought to your room, right away Sire." She said and hung up.

I was about to turn off my phone again when Shyin's call came in.

I stared at my phone screen for a while. After debating on picking the call or not, I finally did.

"Heyy, bro where the fuck are you?"

He asked sternly, but also in a hushed tone.

"Somewhere, why?" I asked bluntly.

"Well, seems Mom wants to see you, or she has been calling, but your number isn't going through, or something." 

"Mhmm mm," I said as I slumped on my bed, turning to face the ceiling.

"Where are you, man?" He asked again, urgency was evident in his voice.

"Mom is coming over and she's definitely going to ask questions." He added.

I sighed, as I tried to imagine how shocked he would be when I finally showed him his adoption papers.

"Okay, I'm out of town, because I had to go visit a sick friend at the hospital." I lied.

"Do I look like a kid to you?" He asked with a hiss. 

"That's the truth bro.." 

"Yeah yeah... I'll handle Mom, but then you'd have to spill the tea later on." He said cutting me short.

I exhaled. "Thank you." I said. 

Clearly, He didn't believe me, but he was ready to cover up for me. Also, he is aware, that I don't really have friends.

"Stay safe man. I'll talk to you later." He said.

"Thanks, bro," I said again before ending the call.

Lin's P.O.V

I've been walking for a long time now, I could also tell because it was getting darker, I know the flowing stream was leading me deeper into the woods.

But I had kept my fate that it would lead me out of the forest. And probably to someone's farmland or something.

As for Zack and Max, I don't think any of them could find me again. Or they would get lost as well. Besides they are the least of my worries.

I need to find a hidden and safe place to sleep because the woods only get more dangerous at night.

I also need to protect myself from wild animals.

It was as though, nature heard my pleas because I soon came across a big tree with wide branches and thick leaves. After surveying the tree again, double checking to make sure it was safe for me to be on it. 

I used the last strength left in me, to climb the tree, and soon I was sitting on one of the branches, with my back resting on the tree itself...

And soon I was dozing off.

Earlier in the woods.

"Hey... come over!." One of the men in the search team said loudly.

Alerting his colleagues who came rushing towards him.

"What's up?" Someone asked.

The man didn't respond, rather he pointed to a brown long rope, on the soil. 

"Looks like, the princess was around here." Someone stated.

"Get to work everyone, we are running out of time!"

A deep, husky voice yelled from the back. Making everyone turn to look behind.

And it was one of their captains.

Everyone scurried away, realizing it was their leader who gave them the order.

"And what's the cause of the distraction?"

He added, as he walked towards the source of the distraction.

"What do we have here?" He asked the first man, to notice it.

"Well, for what I know, the girl had freed herself. 

"Obviously."

The leader said, rolling his eyes to show how unimpressed he was.

He turned and looked around.

And that's when he sighted a faint footprint.

He walked over to the spot, bending over, "She's somewhere around." He said loudly.

"Find her!"

He shouted, as he watched all of them scurried away.

"We have to find the girl before nightfall." He shouted again,but now to the empty woods.