Binding Stone

Part 2

He exhaled deeply, hands resting on the edge of the table. His eyes shut for a moment, calming the storm he kept hidden beneath his calm exterior.

He wasn't blind. Something had changed. There was something in Cassie's eyes now-determination, pain, and... resolve. She might appear composed and stubborn, but Caleb knew the truth. Beneath it all was a fragile shield, like glass ready to fracture.

He walked to the window, lifting the curtain slightly to peer outside. The woods were still misted over, dew clinging to the leaves. But his mind wasn't on the weather-it was on Cassie.

"Why do you look so familiar?" he murmured to himself. "And why do I... care?"

His hand clenched at his side. Not from anger, but from a fear he couldn't name. Something about Cassie kept him from pulling away the way he usually did. And that was dangerous.

"I need to be more careful," he muttered, grabbing his jacket. "If she keeps going like this... she might get herself hurt."

Caleb stepped out of the kitchen, following the pull of instinct that rarely failed him. He wasn't going to let her face this alone-even if Cassie believed she could.

Footsteps echoed from the porch. Cassie, sketching in the living room with her sketchbook on her lap, turned quickly-her instincts still on edge from yesterday's incident.

The front door creaked open. Caleb stepped in first, glancing back and motioning for someone to follow.

"Hey," Caleb said, his tone lighter than usual. "You don't mind if I brought a guest?"

Cassie narrowed her eyes, not answering right away.

A girl appeared in the doorway. About Cassie's age, Latina, with long reddish-brown hair braided down her back. Her smile was sharp yet warm, and her eyes held a kind of curious energy that was hard to define. She wore a worn leather jacket and jeans ripped at the knees-casual, but there was a wild tension in the way she moved, like an animal that had spent too long surviving in the woods.

"I'm Eve," she said, stepping in without hesitation. "Caleb said you might need a friend tonight."

Cassie set her sketchbook aside and looked at Eve with a flat expression. "A friend, huh?"

Caleb glanced between the two girls and leaned against the doorframe. "I thought... this house could use a bit of new energy. And besides, Eve's got enough experience to help if you-"

"I don't need a babysitter," Cassie cut him off sharply, her eyes narrowing at him.

Eve let out a soft laugh, unfazed. "Relax. I'm not into babysitting. But I do make great tea... and I'm good at sneaking out without getting caught. That's enough to be a friend, right?"

Cassie stifled a small, almost invisible smile. There was something about Eve that made her want to trust her-maybe it was the boldness, or the look in her eyes that said, I'm messed up too, but I'm still standing.

Finally, Cassie gave a slight nod. "Okay. Just don't wake me up tonight."

Eve raised a brow. "Deal."

Caleb let out a quiet breath of relief. For the first time in two days, the tension hanging over the house seemed to ease-if only a little.

-

It was well past midnight when Cassie woke up thirsty. The house was silent, save for the wind slipping in through a slightly open kitchen window. She padded softly toward the kitchen and found a warm light already glowing.

Eve was there, sitting comfortably in an oversized hoodie, her hair tied up messily. A mug sat in her hands, and the scent of hot chocolate filled the air.