“We’re going to find him,” he says with way more conviction than I feel.

“Of course we are.” There’s nothing else I can do but agree because what if we don’t? It’s not a possibility I’m interested in.

It’s time that Colin came back, and I need it to happen sooner rather than later. Other than holding on to Perry’s hand for dear life, we don’t talk for the drive down there. The closer we get, the less traffic there is until we reach the imposing dilapidated-looking buildings. We’re starting on the water side while Lars and Arlie come from the other direction, but being here, seeing the huge shadowy monsters, hits me with a feeling of complete hopelessness. If Colin’s here—and that’s still a big if—how the hell are we supposed to find him anyway?

There’s just … so many places. Too many places. How the fuck are we going to search this whole area?

We pull up on a grassy stretch of dirt near where Colin was last seen, and Tommy kills the engine. Unlike me, the other three don’t look at all bothered by the fact we’re going out there and looking for a needle in a fucking haystack.

“Right,” Tommy says, unlatching his door. “Reilly and I will head down that street. You two head that way.”

“No worries,” Ever replies, climbing out of the car. Tommy follows him, and I turn to Perry, not bothering to keep the worry off my face.

“You good?” I ask.

“Of course. We’re going to find your brother, so that’s one less thing for you to worry about.”

“Right.” Before I talk myself out of it, I lean in and kiss him. His lips claim mine like magnets, the natural force bringing us together where we belong.

He pulls back before I’m ready and flashes me a smile. “See you in a bit.” He pops his door too, and I hurry to follow suit, not wanting to be left alone in the silence.

Tommy switches his ear comms on. “You good, Arlie?” After a second, he glances at Everett. “Masks on. Let’s find this fucker.”

Perry and Everett leave, and then it’s me and Tommy and the eerily still silence all around us.

“We’ll see what places we can get inside, but I’m not overly worried about searching locked buildings. If we can’t get in, your brother can’t either.”

I hope he’s right about that. I tug my mask up over my mouth and nose, then hurry to fall into step with him. I’m taller than Tommy, but he walks fast. “Why can’t you find him on the security cameras like you did earlier?”