“Do you know where we’re going?” Peter asked.

“We don’t have to know,” Mailee said, walking ahead of Peter. “The Omni knows. This way, Peter.”

Mailee led him deeper into the woods. She could feel his fear as well as her own, but she could not stop. She had to know what secrets these woods held. Before this was all over she felt as if her life would change forever, but she wasn’t sure if it would be for the good. Despite her fears she knew she had to go on.

It didn’t matter what time of day or night. The forest was always dark. Sometimes this was a plus, because it made it easy to hide. Mailee had never been afraid of the dark, not even as a child. In fact she loved the dark. It was the place she found the most clarity. The tiniest flicker could only be seen in the dark.

“Mailee, what do you see?” Peter asked, rushing up behind her.

“Hush, Peter. I need to concentrate.”

The tattoo on her hand began to glow again, although it was very faint. She felt a slight surge of pain, but she did her best to ignore it. Something was happening. She looked around the forest, but nothing seemed to be out of place.

“Are you getting anything?” Peter asked

Mailee’s heart dropped. “No,” she said. She had claimed defeat. “There’s nothing here.” Just then she heard a faint whisper carried on the wind. “Wait,” she said.

“What is it?” Peter asked.

“I’m not sure. It could be nothing, but…” She listened closely again. There was nothing. Peter could see it in her eyes.

“We should go back to camp,” he said, starting to head back the way they came.

“No, Peter,” she said, halting him. “We need to go on.”

“But you said there’s nothing here.”

“There isn’t. That’s why we need to go on. I still feel something. It’s faint.”