King's POV
The truck rumbled down the dark road, each bump making my stomach churn. I couldn't shake the image of Mom's face as we left her behind. Brave, but scared. Just like me.
Zala sniffled beside me, her small hand clutching mine so tight it almost hurt. But I didn't let go. I couldn't.
"You two doing okay back there?" RG's gruff voice called from the driver's seat.
I wanted to yell at him. To tell him to turn this rust bucket around and go back for Mom and Dad. But the words got stuck in my throat.
Zala spoke up instead, her voice tiny and shaky. "RG, are Mommy and Daddy gonna be okay?"
I watched RG's eyes in the rearview mirror. They looked sad and kinda old.
"Your folks are tough cookies, kiddo," he said. "They've been through worse than this and come out swinging."
I snor
