Caleb stays hidden while we go to the meeting location. He trails me, hiding somewhere I can’t see, but I know he’s there. It’s a feeling deep within me, a certainty, perhaps cultivated by my trust in Caleb. Or maybe I simply sense the weight of his familiar gaze on me, as I’ve grown so accustomed to it.
Whatever the cause, I walk toward the location with confidence knowing that Caleb will protect me – even if he’s still furious that I tried to sneak out on my own.
The meeting location is in the outskirts of the underground, at a park bench under a broken streetlight. The shadows are dark in this area, seemingly stretching on indefinitely. I step into them, swallowed by them, and shiver.
“Hello?” I call. There’s no answer. “Is anyone here?” More silence.
I turn around, searching for C
