Chapter 5 - THE UNSPOKEN FEAR
Cal’s skin had turned a sickly, ash-gray color, standing in stark contrast to the vivid black ink carved across his chest and arms. Cold sweat poured down his forehead, running through his salt-and-pepper beard and dripping onto his leather vest. His lungs dragged in thin, rattling breaths.
Erin reached into her apron pocket with her left hand, pulling out her personal mobile phone to dial emergency services.
Before her fingers could touch the screen, a cold, heavy hand clamped around her right wrist.
It was Cal.
Despite his sudden, total physical breakdown, his grip on her wrist was desperate and tight—a reflexive, iron clamp born of sheer survival instinct. His calloused fingers dug into her skin, anchoring her in place above his chest.
His eyes flickered open, bloodshot and unfocused, searching Erin’s face through a haze of rapidly fading consciousness. His dark beard twitched as he fought to force words through his paralyzed throat.
Leaning his head forward by a fraction of an inch, Cal spoke in an agonizing, raw whisper that barely carried above the noise of the diner.
"Please... don't let them take June."
Erin froze completely.
The words felt like a physical strike in the warm, orange-lit room.
May you like
Her breath caught in her lungs. Slowly, her eyes shifted from Cal’s pale, sweat-slicked face to the little girl sitting two feet away.
June was staring at her father in absolute terror, her small body trembling within her yellow sweatshirt, her tear-filled eyes wide with profound, horrifying realization. She had heard every word.
