Ezra trailed after Caleb, leaving me alone in the quietude. Initially, I assumed their absence would be brief, but as the minutes stretched into an hour, anxiety clung to me like a shadow. The worry gnawed at my insides, and I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that something might have gone wrong. The stillness outside was almost oppressive, amplifying my apprehension.
Summoning courage, I ventured outside, my heart echoing the uncertainty of their whereabouts. The room I'd left felt like a sanctuary compared to the eerie quiet that enveloped the surroundings. The thought of stepping beyond the safety of my refuge sent shivers down my spine, yet the need for reassurance propelled me forward.
As I emerged into the cold embrace of the predawn darkness, I instinctively hugged myself, th
