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My friends and I were in a vulnerable state right now.

As I wandered into the various galleries, I kept my eyes open for a young girl and a man. I passed a group of people listening to a museum guide discuss an abstract sculpture that looked like a god bursting forth from the head of the beast. I wasn’t sure what kind of myth that artwork depicted.

A humming sound caught my ear, and I turned. A girl was holding a flyer, walking down a hallway.

I couldn’t see her face, but her height and form told me she could be Aimee. I glanced around, and no adults were near her.

As I followed her, I called out, “Aimee?”

She turned, and my heart leaped.

Then she rushed into a room.

CHAPTERSIXTY-TWO

VIVIAN

When I walked out,my girls and Kaylee stood in front of the bathroom, looking like soldiers protecting their territory. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had prevented people from entering the bathroom while I dealt with Sylvia.

Warmth bloomed in my chest. These girls had my back.

They glared at Sylvia’s friends, who also glared back.

“C’mon, girls. We have more important things to do today.” Sylvia ushered her friends out. “Let’s go shopping. Not in the mood for art anymore.”

Click, click, click.

I turned to the sounds of a clicking camera.

Elena Sanchez walked up to me and the girls and smiled. “I hope you ladies don’t mind me taking your picture just now.” She was the journalist who had approached me about a story for her online Musepaper that empowered women.

“You already took it,” I said.

“But I won’t use it without your permission.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I was invited to do a segment on the reopening of the museum. I saw you all standing here with a mission to protect something. You looked like warriors—role models for young girls. I couldn’t help but snap a few pictures. May I take one with all of you in it?” She looked at me.

I looked at my girls. “You okay with that?”

“I get to be in the newspaper? Yes, please!” Kaylee exclaimed.

When all my friends agreed, we scooted away from the bathroom sign and posed for a picture with a gorgeous lotus painting behind us.

“Perfect. Thank you so much. I’ll send you a link to the article when it’s published.”

“Thank you.” We exchanged contact information, even though I already had hers somewhere at home.

After Elena left, we resumed our mission to look for Aimee. There had been too many distractions. She could have come and gone already.

“Did you guys see anyone resembling Aimee or Orion while I was dealing with the bathroom?”

“No.” Audri smiled. “Nothing. We were keeping watch.” She leaned in and whispered, “We need another girls’ night out so you can fill us in on the bathroom event.”

I smirked. “Let's concentrate on why we’re here.”

My phone buzzed.

Remi:Anyone hear from Arrow?

Royce:No.