My heart surged with both relief and terror. If Caleb was awake, it meant he had heard everything too. My mind raced as I tried to piece together a plan while lying perfectly still, the weight of the room pressing down on me.
We stayed motionless for what felt like an eternity, listening for any hint that Ethan might return. The seconds stretched into minutes, each one an agonizing testament to our fear. Every creak of the house felt amplified, every distant sound a potential threat. But the silence remained unbroken, except for the steady thrum of my heart in my ears.
Eventually, I began to whisper instructions to Caleb, careful to keep my voice as soft as possible. “Caleb, we need to move, but we have to be quiet—like mice, okay? Can you do that for me?”
