Chapter 35

Chapter 35
Shadows at the Door

Judith

The lock clicked. I froze. My hands held the glass tight. My heart was banging like a drum. The door creaked slow. So slow it hurt my ears.

A guard pushed it open first. Gun up. I stayed very still. Tried not to breathe too loud. Tried not to show I was scared.

Then I saw him. Not a guard. Not Maxwell. A man. Big. Tall. Shadows on his face. But his eyes… I knew them. My stomach dropped.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I said. My voice shook.

He didn’t answer. Just stepped in. Quiet. His boots barely made a sound. My shard felt heavy in my hand. Sharp. Real. Safe.

The soldiers froze. Hands near their guns. Maxwell was gone. I didn’t know if that was good or bad.

“You’re Judith, right?” he said. Calm. Low. Almost bored.

I nodded. My voice stuck in my throat.

He smiled just a little. “Thought so.”

Before I could say anything else, the soldiers moved. But he didn’t care. He raised one hand. The air felt weird, heavy, like something magic. One soldier stumbled. Another dropped his gun. Chaos everywhere. But he stayed calm. Nothing could touch him.

I gasped. “Who… what are you?”

He looked at me fully. “Someone who wants your son back. Like you.”

My heart jumped. Could it be? Could someone really help me?

He stepped closer. “But you have to move. Now.”

I swallowed. “I can’t… Caleb… he’s…” My voice broke.

“You don’t have a choice,” he said. “Stay here, and you lose him forever. Follow me. Fast.”

The shard shook in my hand. I wanted to yell. I wanted to fight. But his voice made me obey.

We slipped past the guards, past the cameras. He moved like a shadow, fast and quiet. I ran to keep up. Fear and blood and worry in my head.

Every step, I thought of Caleb. Alone. Afraid. Lila smiling, mean and sharp. His tiny hands holding nothing but hope.

Caleb

The door creaked. My stomach flipped. I peeked under the blanket. Two shadows. Lila and… someone else.

My heart pounded. The man was big, dark, maybe scary, but not like Lila. Lila’s smile stayed fake, sharp, hungry. But the man… he just looked serious.

“You’re making a mistake,” Lila said. Sweet like poison.

The man didn’t talk. He came closer. Careful. His eyes met mine. Not scary. Not like soldiers.

“You’re Caleb,” he said softly.

I nodded, scared. “Mommy?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. But we’ll fix that.”

Lila gasped. Didn’t expect him. Her smile twitched. Eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

He didn’t answer. Just stepped closer. Then grabbed my hand. Strong. Warm. Safe.

“Come on,” he said. “No time.”

I hesitated. Looked at Lila. She tried to grab me. But the man felt right.

I squeezed his hand. Ran.

Judith

We ran down the hallway. Every corner felt like a trap. My shard burned in my sleeve.

“They will come after us,” he said low.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Someone who knows how to get what you want,” he said.

I didn’t like secrets. Didn’t like riddles. Didn’t have time to argue. Caleb was out there. Screaming silently, waiting for me.

Then I heard it. Tiny. Perfect.

“Mommy!”

My heart stopped. Could it really be him?

“Shh,” the man hissed. “Not yet. Move.”

I bit my lip. Nodded. Barely breathing. Every step closer. Every sound made me jump. Every shadow made me nervous. But I kept moving.

We reached a window. Outside: black SUVs, soldiers, cameras.

He motioned. “Jump. I catch you. Don’t think. Go.”

I shook my head. “I can’t…”

“Judith! He’s calling you!” My heart leapt. Caleb. My little boy.

I didn’t think. I ran.

The man caught me. Strong arms. Steady. The window opened. Wind hit my face. Cold. Terrifying. Alive.

Then…

The world went black for a second. We dropped.

Caleb

I ran down the shiny hallway. Hand in the stranger’s. Lila screamed. Angry. Loud. Sharp.

I didn’t stop. Didn’t look back.

I ran toward light. Fresh air. My little legs burned. But my hand was safe.

Then I heard it. My mommy.

“Caleb!”

I froze. Heart jumped. Could it be real?

“Mommy!” I shouted.

The stranger pushed me forward. “Not yet. Keep going!”

I didn’t want to stop. Couldn’t. Could feel her. My mommy was out there. Fighting for me.

I ran faster. Feet pounding. Chest burning. Throat raw.

In the dark, we were close. Too close to fail.

Judith

I hit the ground. Cold grass. Wet with night. Scrambled up. Shard hidden. Eyes searching.

Then I heard him. Tiny, scared, perfect.

“Mommy!”

I ran. Faster than ever. Past SUVs. Past soldiers. Past everything.

Then I saw him. My little boy. Small arms reaching. Eyes wide and wet.

“Mommy!”

I dropped to my knees. Shard forgotten. Hands shook. Tears fell.

“Caleb!”

At the same time, Lila appeared at the top of the lawn. Screaming. Furious.

Soldiers were close.

The stranger raised his gun. “We can’t hold them long.”

I grabbed Caleb. Pressed him to my chest. Arms burning. Didn’t care.

We were free. Almost.

Suddenly, something heavy hit the ground beside us. Soldier? Or worse?

The night was far from over.

Caleb made a small cry. I hugged him tight and said, “It’s okay… don’t cry.” My heart was beating so fast it felt like it would pop out.
Shadows moved all around us. Fast. Sliding between the cars like ghosts.

I didn’t know who was good or bad anymore. Every little sound made me jump.

Something grabbed my shoulder. I spun around and swung my arm, but nothing was there.

Caleb looked up at me. His eyes were huge and scared.
We ran faster. Our shoes slapped the hot concrete. Breathing felt hard, like fire in my chest.

Then, a loud roar of engines came from behind. Too many. Too fast.

I hugged Caleb close. “Hold on, baby. Don’t let go,” I whispered.

And I knew right then, this chase was far from over.