The Runaway

Chapter 22

On their way to a new motel, Violet requested to stop by a beauty shop to purchase new hair dye. "Go for black hair. You wouldn't look the same at all," Colton suggested. Violet didn't want to go completely black so she bought the darkest shade of brown they had instead.

Violet glanced at Em who didn't look too happy. "Let's get back in the van guys."

With Em added to the group, everyone changed their seating. Violet sat with Em and Riley in the back, Delsin sat with Colton and Colette was with Aiden.

"You okay?" Violet asked Em.

She nodded. "Yeah, sorry. It's just things have been a little too hectic don't you think? It's making me stressed that's all."

"That makes two of us," Riley said. Her hand was placed over Em's and Violet couldn't help staring. She had never seen Riley being caring like that before.

"Thanks Riley. You've always been a good friend."

Violet's jaw dropped. Good friend? You've got to be kidding me, she thought.

"Where exactly are we going?" Delsin asked Colton.

He didn't reply until they stopped at a red light. "Phoebe texted me that Scarlet was last seen at a casino. We're heading near that area."

Riley gave Em a long smirk. "Oh no. We are not going there to play. Focus on our mission," Em said.

Riley rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "This all sucks."

"Fun's for after this is all over," Colton spoke, making Riley freeze in her spot. She stared at the back of his head for a moment and then looked away. Clearly, she wasn't over their argument.

"Do you want to tell me what's wrong?" Em whispered to Riley.

She shook her head. "Not right now."

Right after she spoke, the van swerved to the left harshly, causing them to topple onto each other. "What the hell Colton?" Em yelled. "What's going on?"

"Take a look outside," Aiden said.

Violet's eyes focused on the black jeep next to them. The white hair in the driver's seat suddenly made her stomach turn. She couldn't mistake whose sharp blue eyes those belonged to.

The jeep shifted left and right continuously teasing them as a threat. "That bastard." Colton sped up to avoid being hit, but the jeep was already one step ahead of them. It was in front of them now and did a full turn, blocking their path. Everyone yelped as Colton slammed on the brakes. Cars all around them honked at their sudden stop in the middle of the road.

Victor stepped out of the jeep with a glare and Colton rolled down the windows. "What the hell do you want?"

"It's such a coincidence to run into you again." Victor chuckled. His eyes went to Violet and he smirked. "That human's still with you? Hasn't she found out the truth by now?"

"That's none of your business," Colton stated.

"Huh. You're calm about it. So she already knows." Another chuckle. "After knowing it all, she's still lingering? How stupid." His eyes cut into hers. "Do you not value your life? Or wait, let me guess, are they holding you captive?"

"That's enough," Colton muttered. "Just get on with it. We don't have all day." The cars around them were getting noisier by the second.

"I'd give up finding Scarlet if I were you. We already found the other two victims. It won't be long before we find her too."

"You think we're just going to say yes?" Riley hollered from the back.

Victor folded his arms and tilted his head. "I'm not an idiot. I'm here to gift you all with a deal." No one was listening to the cars anymore. Now, they were waiting intensely for what he had to say. "Stop searching for Scarlet or else I'll report to The Silvers about you."