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Instead, he settled for a reassuring squeeze of her hand. “The best thing we can do tonight is get some rest.” His sleeplessness last night was catching up to him and he felt sluggish, unbalanced. “I have a feeling we’re going to need it.”
She nodded. “You’re right.”
He cracked a smile. “Wow. You actually admitted I’m right about something? Are you feeling okay? Is this a sign of the apocalypse?”
She rolled her eyes but exhaled a soft laugh as she crawled into bed, which he counted as a win.
They lay in silence together for several minutes.
“Cal, can you just…?” She trailed off, but she didn’t need to finish.
“Come here.” He opened his arms and waited until she nuzzled closer before wrapping them both in the blanket. Having her in his arms felt right—it always had—and he didn’t understand how she couldn’t feel it, too.
As she nestled into him, he breathed in her familiar scent, the faintly floral aroma of her shampoo calming his frazzled nerves. He stroked her back in long, soothing motions, whispering comforting words into her hair.
“I hate this place,” she murmured sleepily against his chest.
“Me, too.”
She mumbled something incoherent in response, her breathing gradually slowing as she drifted off to sleep against him.
He wanted to follow her, and his eyes drifted closed before he forced them open again. He had one more thing to do first.
He climbed out of bed and stepped outside to meet Pierce…
But Pierce never showed.
chapter
eighteen
Day three.
According to all of Ellie’s research, it only took three days to indoctrinate someone into a new belief system. This was the turning point for most people—the moment they decided whether or not the cult was their cup of tea.
It definitely wasn’t hers.
Or, thankfully, Cal’s.
But Nico and Tyler? They were all in. At breakfast, they chattered about all the spiritual enlightenment they were experiencing and how they felt more connected than ever. They didn’t seem to notice the weird shift in mood among the commune members. Everyone still had that air of manufactured tranquility and bright smiles, but they were all jumpier than usual.
The day wore on with a series of group activities—meditation, yoga, and lectures that Ellie could only describe as “spiritual peer pressure.” All of it was designed to break down the walls they built around themselves. To make them belong.
Instead of lunch, they were ushered to yet another workshop on “spiritual enlightenment”—a term she had begun to associate with hours of monotonous chants and flowery language.
The members sat in pairs under the shade of a towering redwood grove. Ellie found herself with Serenity, while Cal was paired with a man called Equinox for a “heart-sharing” exercise.
Whatever that meant.
Serenity took Ellie’s hands into hers and looked deeply into her eyes. “We are mirrors, reflecting each other’s souls. I see kindness in you, Ellie. I see strength, too, but also so much fear and uncertainty.”
Ellie nodded uncomfortably, unsure what she was supposed to say in return. Serenity seemed to be waiting for a response, but Hopeful’s approach saved her from having to formulate one. He placed a hand on Equinox’s shoulder, and the man instantly popped to his feet, making room for Hopeful to sit across from Cal. His gaze flickered to Ellie, and unease gnawed through her as he reached for Cal’s hands.
“I see great courage in you, Cal,” Hopeful began in a solemn tone, “and a relentless pursuit for justice. You seek to bring balance to an imbalanced world.” His grip tightened enough to leave imprints on Cal’s skin. “But you must take care and learn to pick your battles, or else your pursuit will end in disaster.”
Cal’s bland smile didn’t falter, but Ellie could see the traces of worry in his eyes. And something else.
Fear.
