Maya's Seeker woke everyone at 2 AM. Red light flashing.
“Large fragment. Hundred miles west. In a cave.”
“What does it do?” Julian asked.
Dr. Ellis grabbed her tablet. “That's the Fear Eater. I created it twenty-five years ago. It removes fear from anyone nearby. Completely.”
“That sounds helpful.”
“It's not. People without fear walk into traffic. Poke bears. Jump off buildings. The fragment killed twelve people before I lost it.”
Julian grabbed his cane. “We leave now.”
The Cave
The cave sat in a mountain wall. Dark. Cold. A blue glow came from inside.
Kira listened. “One person inside. A man. His thoughts are quiet. He's not afraid of anything.”
“Including us,” Dara said.
They walked in. The man sat on a rock. Thirty years old. His eyes glowed blue.
“You're here to take my f
