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Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the trunk and climbed out I tried to stand up, but I crus had fallen asleep I waited for the pins and needles to fade before getting to h the weapons I picked out two s that the gun was loaded, I scooped up a handful of extra bullets and poured them into my pocket I fastened the weapons to the belt in my jeans and then left the room

I crept upstairs and cli a deep breath, I pushed it open slowly, just enough for h

We were back on Caleb’s icy island

Even as I cliained entrance so easily Caleb had toldthis place, and I’d barely felt any turbulence I could only assume that either Adelle was a ht or they were noelco visitors

I lowered myself down the side of the vessel until my feet landed on the jetty I shivered as a harsh hipped past me, and pulledwarmer clothes I was still dressed to suit The Shade’s teht sweater and jeans My shoes werethrough them

I hurried away from the harbor and dove into the first patch of shrubbery I ca as I tried to detect even the slightest , I hurried into the woods I kept off thefro to look around each ti into anyone However, when I looked up at the mountain upon which the castle was perched, I swore

I was now in clear view of anyone who happened to look out of the front s And I had forgotten how high up the building really was These shoes I earing hardly had anya ith Caleb

But noasn’t the tihts

I wondered where Adelle and Eli would be right nohether Adelle would have been able to transport thean cli after barely a fifth of the way up, I kept going,hout the ascent was that so dark clothes amidst all this crisp white snow

A quarter of the way up, I stopped, my eyes ith terror The creak of heavy doors echoed down through the cold air I dropped to the ground, spreading athered up snow and tried to cover e of the staircase and looked down There was a se a couple of feet down My heart haasped at how high up I was, and how narrow this ledge felt now that I was perched on it I shuffled e as possible

Now I just have to hope whoever has exited the castle doesn’t stop short at the scent ofmyself with snow, I closed my eyes I barely dared breathe as I waited for the varew louder and louder The ht