THE SKIES ARE A DUSKY SCARLET, mixed in hues of spanning blue when about seven dark vans pull into the northern trail of the Los Padres Woods. A group of tall men in militarized outfits exit the mysterious vehicles and gather round. In their midst is a teenage girl with flowing red hair.
Once the men surround her, Caden, the man leading the elite force moves towards her. He stops short of her delicate frame, towering a good feet over her.
"Are you ready, Melanie?"
The girl nods and her fiery hair glints in the light of the evening sun. Caden lifts his hands to her face, allowing his fingers to frame her cheeks.
"You know you don't have to do this. You can back off. I won't blame you if you choose to—"
Melanie interrupts him by shaking her head.
