Marella's P.O.V

"This is such a big state to search! Where do we even start?" Dex asked, while everyone was gathered in the living area of the hotel they were staying at.

"Well, let's first search right where we are at. Nashville is the biggest city in Tennessee so our best chance is here," Wylie suggested.

"Alright so where do we even start to search?" Marella asked.

"Just around Nashville," Wylie replied.

"Okay, our best chance might be here in Nashville but you do realize Nashville is huge?" Marella reminded.

Everyone got quiet as they started to think. "I think we should go somewhere where there are lots of people— like locals because then they could tell us if they know anything suspicious here," Edaline suggested.

"So maybe we should ask the hotel staff about any main events going on around here?" Marella suggested.

"Yeah, let's do that," Wylie agreed.

"Everyone remember to bring your weapons!" Grady announced as he raised his metal spiked bat up.

"Grady! You need to stop pulling that thing out! Only for emergencies!" Edaline hissed, slabbing him.

"Ow! You're no fun!" Grady whined, reluctantly putting his bat away.

"Alright, enough of that. Let's go," Wylie said.

The group then made their way out of their room and down into the main lobby.

"Excuse me sir," Wylie said, calling over a worker. "We're visiting and we really want to get the best experience here. Are you aware of any main events we can attend?" He asked.

"Hmm..." the worker thought to himself. "Ah, there's this marketplace near by that is set up only for this weekend. They are selling priceless stuff that you can only get there. They also have events going on there like concerts, games, and restaurants nearby. It's something we look forward to every year," he explained.

The group then looked at each other and shrugged. "Alright, could you show us the direction of this marketplace?" Edaline asked.

"If you want, we can call a taxi to bring you guys there," the worker suggested.

"Sure that would be great," Edaline thanked.

The worker then called a taxi and soon enough, a taxi pulled up in front of the hotel and they hopped in.

"Well this is nice," Marella said as they handed them drinks in the taxi.

"Agreed," Dex said.

They then drove off and about twenty minutes later they arrived at the marketplace.

They got out of the taxi and Marella gasped.

This place was huge!

They had stands everywhere— about a hundred of them. They were selling all sorts of things. From clothing to jewelry to fragrances to food to art to almost everything.

There were also acrobats performing acts with fire and tricycles, magicians performing to crowds, and even wild animals being tamed.

"This. Is. EPIC!" Dex and Marella shouted at the same time.

"Now now, maybe we can come back here later this week but right now remember to focus," Edaline said, like that would be an easy task.

"OH MY GOSH! THEY ARE SELLING BATS OVER THERE!" Grady shouted, dashing off.

"GRADY GET BACK HERE!" Edaline yelled, chasing after him.

"Uh, I should probably help Edaline. Grady won't be easy to catch," Wylie said. "Can I trust you two to start searching for anything suspicious?" He asked.

Marella and Dex nodded. "Good, remember to call us if you find anything," Wylie said, then leaving them.

"Omg, where do we even start?" Marella asked, feeling overwhelmed with all the stuff they had.

"Well, maybe the sellers know stuff about this area so why don't we go around to each stand and ask them?" Dex suggested.

"Yeah let's do that," Marella agreed.

"Yeah and we can just check out the things they have," Dex added.

"Oh yes— um...for disguise purposes," Marella said.

"Right right— for disguise purposes," Dex agreed, nodding his head.

Marella then started to smirk. "Let's go to the first section of the stands. I'll go on the left side and you go on the right side."

"Alright, we'll meet up at the end of it," Dex said.

"Alright, see ya," Marella said, dashing off to the stands.

The first one was selling chocolates from around the world.

"Ma'am! I have all sorts of delicious chocolates! I have these rich ones from Belgium— oh and some of the finest from Switzerland—"

"I'll take a small bag of those truffles from Belgium," Marella said, cutting off the lady as her mouth watered.

"Alright! That will be fifteen dollars!" The lady announced.

"FIFTEEN?! For only three truffles?" Marella shrieked.

"It's one of the world's finest chocolates!" The lady defended, snatching the fifteen dollars out of Marella's hands.

Marella just grabbed the chocolates and left.

Alright, Marella had to calm down before she got broke.

Oh and she forgot to ask the lady about anything suspicious!

Marella decided she would just ask the next person.

The next stand was selling these metal trinkets and the man that was there was hammering some metal in the back.

"Um excuse me sir?" Marella called, his back facing her.

"How may I help you?" The man asked with a deep voice, still not turning around.

"Uh...I just had a question that I need locals to answer for me," Marella said.

"I'm not from around here," he replied.

"Oh," Marella mumbled.

"But would you like to buy any of my trinkets?" The man asked.

Before Marella could reply, the man turned around and Marella screamed when the tall and big man was missing an eye.

"What's wrong, girl?" The man asked, creepily hovering over her.

Marella gulped. "Uh nothing!" She exclaimed, dashing off.

Alright, next station!

She moved through what must have been about ten stations. They were selling geodes, crystal objects, hats, and more food.

She managed to ask a few of them if they knew about any suspicious activity around this town but they would all remain silent and give her a weird look.

It was honestly kind of creepy. This place was now starting to give her shady vibes.

When Marella was about to turn a corner to start to find Dex to search somewhere else, someone called out, "Marella!"

Marella froze and spun around. No one was looking at her.

"Marella," the person hissed again.

"Who said that?!" Marellla asked, spinning around.

"I did," someone said behind her.

Marella turned to see an old lady sitting in a stand.

Marella realized she was a fortune teller with the clear sphere that sat in front of the lady and all the strange items that were hanging around her.

"Take a seat," the old lady said, gesturing to the chair in front of her stand.

Marella sat down and laughed. "Are you a witch or something?" She joked, when taking a look at all the witchcraft looking stuff in the stand.

"Indeed I am," the old lady replied.

"Oh!" Marella gasped, nervously laughing.

Great, now she was speaking with a witch.

This place seriously was shady!

"Wait— so how do you know my name?" Marella asked, realizing that the old lady knew.

"I can know everything I want about everyone here," she replied.

Okay, totally not creepy.

"Okay..." Marella mumbled, not knowing what to say.

"And something drew me towards you...I sensed a strange energy from you," the old lady said, staring intently in Marella's eyes.

"Me? What's so strange about me?" Marella asked.

"You...you're here for something. You're searching for something— someone," the lady said.

"Uh..." Marella mumbled, getting up. "I don't know what you're talking
about—"

"Her name is Sophie isn't it?" The old lady asked, right when Marella was about to leave.

Marella spun around. "How did you know that?"

The old lady smiled. "I told you, I know everything about everyone here."

"Okay and what are you trying to do?" Marella asked.

"Tell your fortune," the lady replied.

Marella gasped.

Wait...this lady could tell her how they could find Sophie—

Or how things would end.

Marella slowly sat back down. "How much do I have to pay you?"

The old lady shook her head. "For fortunes, you don't pay the price with cash."

"Then how?" Marella asked.

"Learning the truth comes with a price you can only find with time," the old lady said.

Marella got chills at the way she said that.

"Alright, can you just do my fortune?" Marella asked, not caring about the truth and paying the price stuff.

"Your fortune? Or your group's fortune? Pick which one, I'll only do one," the old lady said.

Well it would be selfish if Marella just asked for her fortune, no matter how tempting that was.

"The group's," Marella decided.

The old lady smiled. "I knew you would pick that one— it will benefit you the most."

The lady then closed her eyes and started to hum as her hands circled the clear sphere in front of her.

Marella felt a little stupid getting a fortune— she really didn't believe in that kind of stuff. But this lady knew her name and Sophie's so that had to mean something.

Plus Marella needed all the help she could get. And even if the fortune was wrong, what was there to lose?

"Oh my," the lady whispered, her eyes still closed.

"What is it?" Marella asked.

The old lady opened her eyes back up and frowned. "This is worse than I expected..."

"Worse?! What are you talking about?" Marella demanded, feeling scared.

"I can only give you vague information because it could ruin the fortune," the old lady rambled.

"Well c'mon! Spit it out!" Marella demanded, nervously biting her lip. She didn't like how this old lady looked.

"There shall be a betrayal— multiple!" The lady cried out.

"BETRAYALS?! Who?! When?!" Marella exclaimed. "Like do you mean Neverseen betrayals?"

The old lady shook her head. "Betrayals among people you are close to."

"PEOPLE I AM CLOSE TOO?!" Marella shrieked, feeling her heart race. "WHO?! HOW MANY?!"

The lady shook her head. "I can't say..."

Marella felt like she was about to tear up. "What is the cause of the betrayals?"

The old lady hesitated. "There's many reasons for the betrayals, but...there's one main factor."

"What's the main factor?" Marella asked.

"Love," the old lady said.

Love?!

"These betrayals will ruin your missions and plans— possibly destroy you all!" The old lady continued.

Marella stood up and started to slowly back away.

"Marella! Marella where are you?!" Marella heard Dex call.

Marella slowly turned her head and saw that Dex was searching for her, not too far away.

Then a very scary thought came to Marella.

Dex and Linda—

No, Dex would never betray her...

Right?

DUN DUN DUNNN!!!

SO BETRAYALS?? MULTIPLE?? COMMENTS WHO YOU THINK WILL COMMIT BETRAYALS ➡️➡️➡️

For now...

WE SHALL SEE...

Next update on Monday!