The dawn broke bleak and bloodless, mist hanging to the ground as Mia and Sam walked through the dense woods, Zoe a few feet ahead, silent and annoying. that they had left the college far behind, traveling down twisting trails with nothing but the overwhelming weight of tiredness propelling them forward.
Zoe froze and raised one hand to signal hush when she heard a sound ahead of time. Mia's heart skipped a beat when they saw a figure emerge from the fog. Tall, with sharp features and a calm, calculated expression, he appeared more like a ghost than a person. As he approached, he raised his palms in a peaceful gesture, but his eyes were dark and unreadable.
"My name is Caleb," he stated effortlessly, his voice steady, with a mild, disarming smile. "Didn't suggest to scare you."
"Who says we're scared?" Zoe said coldly, clutching her weapon securely. She did not return his smile.
Caleb's attention shifted to Mia, who clutched Sam close. His gaze softened for a brief moment. "looks as if you've had a rough night time."
Mia nodded, feeling the pull of his quiet confidence, the warmth in his eyes. Something about him appeared stable and real, which was a great comfort in a crazy world. However, alongside her, Zoe's body stiffened and her jaw tightened as she watched him transform into a viper ready to attack.
"What do you need?" Zoe demanded, her voice fierce.
Caleb appeared between them, letting the question linger in the frigid morning air. "Nothing," he said sooner or later. "But I can assist. There's a more secure spot not far from here: a small camp, right people. You do not have to be out here on your own."
Mia sensed a flash of longing, a hint of possibility. Zoe's hand remained on her weapon, her expression unreadable. "And what do you get out of it?"
Caleb met her stare unfazed. "I understand the risk of keeping humanity alive. It's all we have left, right? He stared at Mia with a warm and genuine gaze that caught her off guard. She felt a small blush rise up her cheekbones.
"We don't know you," Zoe remarked, cutting the conversation short.
"You could come with me or continue strolling into the unknown," Caleb replied emphatically. "I'm not here to convince you. But I know a safe area with components and people who will return your belongings."
Mia felt her heart pull in several directions, one clinging to Zoe and the other wondering, intrigued by Caleb's serene self-belief. He was correct; they were nearing the end of their strength, with Sam barely hanging on.
Zoe let out a disappointed sigh as she attempted to communicate with Mia. "You in reality believe him?"
Mia hesitated and bit her lip. "We want a place to relax, Zoe," she said quietly, her gaze returning to Caleb. "perhaps… perhaps he's proper."
Caleb fixed her gaze and gave a comforting nod. Zoe rolled her eyes, but after a long and demanding pause, she offered a curt nod. "quality. But I don't believe him," she mumbled beneath her breath loud enough for Caleb to notice.
Caleb's lips curved into a small smirk. "Understood."
As they went through the woods together, Mia felt a strange, electric pull towards Caleb build. His presence seemed to lighten the load on her shoulders, and he or she noticed herself sneaking looks at him, wondering what secrets and techniques remained buried beneath that serene exterior. Zoe, on the other hand, maintained her distance, her expression rigid, and each stride an indication of her distrust.
They arrived to a clearing with tents pitched in straight rows and a few tired faces peeking out. The camp became little, but it felt like a refuge, a small slice of safety in an otherwise brutal world. Caleb took them to a tent on the camp's threshold and motioned for them to settle in.
"That is yours for now," he said. "rest up, and while you're prepared, I'll show you around."
Zoe's eyes narrowed. "You've been given humans right here, perfectly fine. "Who are they, without a doubt?"
Caleb shrugged. "Survivors, like us. Some of them I knew before, while others I did not. However, we have built something here. Something that works.
He developed a gentler tone in his voice towards Mia. Take your time. "I'll be nearby in case you need anything."
Zoe waited until he was out of earshot before adding, "I don't consider him." Men like him typically have a perspective."
"Maybe he's exceptional," Mia said gently, unable to ignore the way her heart rate had increased around Caleb. He looked at her with a depth that made her feel as if he understood portions of her that she hadn't yet exposed.
Zoe scoffed. "That's what he wants you to assume."
Later that evening, as the bonfire flickered, Caleb reappeared, bringing up a crate to sit next to them. His gaze stayed on Mia, loving and sympathetic, yet his comments were addressed at the institution. "I am aware that it is difficult to agree with folks today. However, I am delighted you are here. I believe this is the closest you'll come to home."
Mia met his gaze, captivated to the silent energy inside them, and felt a magnetic pull that was difficult to explain. Her pulse accelerated, and she stuck herself, perhaps foolishly, thinking that he could live close by, that his presence would protect them from the darkness beyond.
Jasper, sitting across the hearth, studied Caleb closely, his face dark. "Why did you put this region up, Caleb? Now, not many people are willing to help without expecting something in return.
Caleb grinned, but it did not reach his eyes. "I suppose I just wanted something to hold onto. "Somewhere to feel secure." He shrugged, his expression darkening for a second. "however protection is usually temporary, isn't it?"
Jasper's expression did not soften. "it is. And belief is more difficult to achieve.
A subtle tension flared between them, an unspoken venture hanging in the air. Mia watched Zoe looking at Caleb with equal focus, as if waiting for him to stumble and reveal something he had shifted into hiding. Caleb's stare became more steady, facing their inspection without flinching.
The hours passed, and when the night fell, the campfire faded out. Mia sat next to Caleb, the calm of the night much less biting alongside him, her heart fluttering as his shoulder brushed against her own. She could no longer resist the pull, the unusual comfort his presence provided, despite the tiny cautions in the back of her mind.
When he stood up, the night was pitch black around them, so he leaned in close. "Get a few rest," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes met hers and lingered. "I'll be round if you want me."
Mia nodded, a sweet grin on her lips as he grew, and went away, vanishing into the darkness. She sank into the makeshift bed alongside Sam, letting her eyes close, Caleb's voice lingering in her mind.
However, as the camp grew quieter, Jasper leaned nearer Zoe, his expression clouded with threat. "Something does not sit right with me about him," he murmured, his voice low. "people don't live to tell the tale out right here on my own with out paying some sort of rate."
Zoe did not react, her gaze fixed on the darker direction Caleb had taken. The distrust in her stare hinted at something darker - suspicion, or even something deeper.
"He's hiding something," Jasper said, his voice hard and each word falling like a warning. "Mark my phrases. I don't trust him. You shouldn't either.
Zoe's lips twitched with a tiny grin. "appropriate factor I already don't."
A startling disturbance drew their attention to the trees beyond the camp. The rustle was too loud to be caused by the breeze. Jasper's fingers moved to his weapon, his gaze hardening. Zoe stood, her shoulders irritated, and every sensation intensified.
Mia awoke to the sound, her body stiff as she sat up and listened. Caleb's warning lingered in her mind, and her heart raced as she strained to hear.
The hush became
absolute. Then, the tiniest of footfall approached.
After then, a whisper.
"Run."