All Chapters of Chasing fireflies: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The day she died…Todd walked her to her front door but didn’t stick around. Chloe crept around the side of the house and froze. Her dad was out, talking to two burly guys she didn’t recognize. They went inside and came back out carrying something, her mom’s body. Chloe clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle a scream. They loaded her into the back of a van and slammed the doors shut.Without thinking, Chloe slipped into the van through the back door. Her mom was still warm when she touched her hand. Chloe let out a shaky breath and ducked under a tarp in the corner as the van started moving. There were no windows, no way to see where they were going, just darkness and the sound of tires on pavement.The van came to a halt. Chloe stayed hidden under the tarp, her breath shallow. She listened as they dragged her mom’s body out, the van doors slamming shut behind them. When the coast seemed clear, she slipped out, scanning the area. It was some kind of industrial building, cold, sterile

Liam settled beside her, his shoulder warm against hers. "It's time you knew everything."His voice dropped low. "Years ago, a wealthy man's wife fell ill. He sought a healer but witnessed something forbidden, my mother shifting forms. Humans fear what they don't understand. He took her, harvested her organs believing they would cure his wife." Liam's jaw tightened. "Both women died. He's hunted us ever since."The elder leaned forward. "I foresaw your coming."We're vanishing Chloe, Liam continued. "When I found you in that cemetery, I didn't know fate had connected us." His voice broke. "Your father served the hunter. I believe he sacrificed your mother to protect you. He knew we were hiding in the marshes." Liam's eyes glistened in the firelight. "I killed him, didn't resist, no more beatings for you, no more suffering. I couldn't bear watching your pain and also didn’t know he had already dumped you in the marsh.Tears streamed down Chloe's face as she threw her arms around his ne

"No, Liam, you can’t go! Listen to me, I’m serious, I feel it. Something’s wrong." Chloe’s voice was frantic, her hands gripping his arm like she was afraid he’d vanish if she let go. Her anxiety was palpable, but there was a stubborn set that told him she wasn’t backing down.He sighed, trying to calm her. "Chloe, it was just a dream. You’re overthinking this.""Overthinking? No, I’m coming with you. End of discussion. Besides, I need to talk to James anyway," she shot back, her tone leaving no room for argument."Fine," Liam relented, though he couldn’t help but smile as his hand drifted to her belly. "It’s been a month already, huh?""Yeah," she murmured, her voice softening for a moment. "Your boy’s growing."He squeezed her hand, but the moment was shattered when the car ahead slowed abruptly. Liam hit the brakes, only to feel the impact of the vehicle behind them slamming into theirs. Chloe instinctively clutched her stomach."I’m okay," she said quickly, though Liam’s worried g

Six months later…He dragged his feet when the day came to leave, stalling as much as possible. Hunter laid out his terms, wherever she went, he’d be there, no questions asked. But first, they needed to see Lucas. The moment they arrived, the kid sprinted into Chloe’s arms, and she broke down. He looked so much like his father it hurt. Lucas was about 4 in human years.“Hi, Hunter,” Lucas said, glancing up. “Thanks for bringing my mom back.”“Hey, buddy,” Hunter replied, ruffling his hair. “Wish you could come with us. Just hang tight a little longer, okay?”“I know,” Lucas said with a shrug. “The elder already told me. Mom, look at this!” In a flash, he shifted into a sleek black cat, his bright eyes blinking up at her.Chloe crumpled, sobbing again. Nwa.“Liam,” she whispered through tears, clutching him close. It took forever for her to calm down, but eventually, they said their goodbyes and hit the road.Chloe felt like the walls were closing in. She glanced at Hunter"Do we really

Chloe stirred awake to the sound of raised voices arguing.“Hunter,” she murmured softly.“Hey, are you okay?” he asked, brushing her cheek with a worried touch. “I didn’t know, Chloe…”“I’ll fill her in,” the man claiming to be her father cut in. Hunter shifted, making room as the man perched on the edge of the bed. Chloe propped herself up slowly.“Name’s Frank,” he said, then gesturing to another man. “This is Oliver, your brother. Your mom’s not dead, just gone. She’s been searching for you for years but lost track. It broke her, losing you, was part of a coven, witches with rules she broke by marrying me. They took you as punishment. We thought you were dead until a seer told Hunter’s dad about you.”He turned to Hunter. “I tried explaining, but you were too caught up, thinking you were in love. Then you both died.”Hunter shot his dad a look. “You were talking about her?”“Yeah,” his dad replied. “The seer said it wasn’t the right time, but they were hunting us. They knew you’d