Chapter 4: Burn It All
The forest air was crisp, laced with beams of golden sunlight breaking through the canopy above. Noah walked with steady steps, dragging Cael’s limp body by a thick rope tied around his ankles. The uneven ground made the body bump against roots and stones, but Noah didn’t glance back even once. His gaze was sharp, fixed ahead, his thoughts storming inside like a brewing tempest.
Once he reached a small clearing, he let Cael’s body fall with a dull thud at the base of a large tree. He paused, taking a deep breath. Then, from the inside pocket of his coat, he pulled out an old bronze pocket watch, its cover scratched and slightly cracked at the glass.
He clicked it open. The hands showed 7:47 p.m.
"One hour," he muttered. "One hour to go buy meat. And I’ve already kidnapped a bastard."
He shut the watch with a soft snap and tucked it back inside his coat. Then, quickly and efficiently, he tied Cael to the tree. Wrists, ankles, torso—nothing was left loose. Once done, Noah took a step back and observed him with a mix of contempt and bitter anticipation.
He crouched in front of Cael’s unconscious face and slapped him.
No reaction.
He slapped him again, harder this time. Then again.
"Come on, wake up..." he hissed. "Don’t play dead now."
One more slap, with the back of his hand.
"WAKE. UP."