Chapter 269: Forest

"No, there isn't just one tree. There are hundreds. Thousands, even," Mia recalled from the whirlwind of images of the path through the underground labyrinth.

"That's… where did Ford go?"

The question came from Seth, and it seemed to boil with anger under the surface. Mia could tell that despite her assurances, her father didn't quite believe that she'd left of her own free will.

Which, on the one hand, was entirely fair since it was out of character to act so heedlessly of everyone else's feelings and run off with only a simple note left behind.

On the other hand, she'd now told him twice that it wasn't Ford's fault, and his continued disbelief felt like he was calling her a liar, or stupid. That would sting more if he weren't so distraught over her absence.

But right now…

Ford was gone.