It had been nearly a week since the night blood soaked the floors of the Mason home. Since Cal had screamed so loudly it burned his throat. Since Lily's breath returned in a gasp.
And now, he was back at school. The bell rang like, indifferent to what had passed. Laughter and chatter echoed in the halls. Cal walked the hallway with the same uniform, same bag slung over one shoulder—but nothing else was the same. There was something colder about him now. Not just in his eyes, which had seen too much, but in how he carried himself. Straighter. Firmer. Like the weight of what he'd been through had set something inside him.
Becky Hangston caught sight of him across the hallway and gave a small wave, eyes lighting up the way they usually did when she recognized someone. Normally Cal would've fumbled a response or made some dumb flirtatious comment under his breath. But not today. He nodded, barely, and kept walking.
Classes passed in a blur. Words spoken by teachers meant nothing. Equations on the board were just lines and numbers. His fingers took notes out of habit, but his mind was elsewhere. Always elsewhere now.
When the bell rang for break, Nate was on him immediately. He jogged up, falling into step beside Cal like no time had passed.
"You look like you've been hit by a truck, man," Nate said. "And not in a funny way."
Cal smirked weakly. "Appreciate that."
"I mean it. You were gone for a full week. What happened?"
Cal cut him off with a shrug and a crooked chuckle. "It's fine. I'm good, really. Thanks for covering for me."
Nate narrowed his eyes. "Yeah. You look good."
Cal stopped walking, turned to face him. "I said I'm fine."
And for a moment, Nate saw something sharp flicker behind his friend's eyes. But just as quickly, it vanished. Nate didn't push.
When the final bell rang, Cal didn't stick around. He didn't talk to anyone. Didn't wave goodbye. One minute he was in the classroom, the next he was gone.
The facility buzzed with low activity when he arrived at the Central wing of the Ledger. There was a stillness here that didn't match the usual organized chaos. Men and women in white coats tapped away at terminals and screens, murmuring to one another. Selene stood just a few feet from them, arms crossed as she watched the data pour in. She didn't look surprised when Cal approached.
"Where is he?" Cal asked without hesitation. "Malvek. Any word?"
Selene didn't answer right away. Her gaze remained fixed on the display for a moment longer before she turned to him.
"Nothing. Not yet."
Cal's jaw clenched. "It's him. I'm telling you. That quote—that same damn line he used. It was under the picture in Grant's family album. And the monster said it right before it finished him off."
Selene nodded. "I don't doubt you. But every lead we've had on Malvek has gone cold. The military declared him dead months ago. No surviving family, no traces, no digital footprint since."
"Then somebody's lying," Cal muttered. He paced for a moment, then ran a hand through his hair. "We need to find him before he realizes Lily's alive. If he's got any idea she survived—"
"He won't," Selene interrupted. "She's under our protection now. No one is getting to her here, not unless they've got a death wish."
Cal didn't look reassured. Selene looked at him carefully, her tone even. "Cal. I want to get to the root of this as soon as possible. We'll find the truth. I promise."
He didn't answer. He didn't need to.
Instead, he turned and walked off—straight toward the medical wing.
Lily's room was softly lit, a quiet hum from the machines beside her bed. She sat upright, small arms hugging a pillow with cartoon characters on it. The oxygen mask was gone, her cheeks slowly regaining color. Her eyes brightened the moment she saw Cal.
She leapt off the bed and into his arms.
"Cal!" she squealed.
He caught her midair, holding her tight. His ribs ached, but he didn't care.
"Hey, kiddo. You good?"
"Yes" she said, burying her face against his shoulder.
He set her down gently and led her back to the bed. She clambered up, sitting cross-legged as he took a seat beside her. Her little fingers played with the hem of her gown.
"I miss Mommy and Daddy," she said softly. "The doctors said they're still in the hospital. But it's been so long…"
Cal swallowed the lump in his throat. He forced a smile. "They're getting treated. It's taking time, but they'll be back. Just a little longer."
It was a lie. A stupid, merciful lie.
He hated it every time he said it—but he couldn't take that truth from her. Not yet. Not at four years old.
Selene had wanted to be honest. But Cal had begged her not to be.
"I don't want her to know what it feels like to lose everything," he'd told her.
So, they told the lie. A soft one. A gentle one. A necessary one.
Lily nodded slowly. "Okay… I'll wait."
She leaned her head against his arm.
And for a moment, Cal felt something. Not relief. Not peace. But a spark of warmth. The first one all day.
The door creaked open. A man in uniform stepped into the ward.
"Mr. Everene," the operative said. "You're needed outside. You might want to see this."
Cal stood, jaw tightening. He gave Lily a gentle pat and promised he'd be right back. Still, he hesitated at the door. Peace wasn't on the other side. Not today.