I walked downstairs a few hours later only to find the house empty. Caleb had not woken up and I couldn’t bear to just sit and watch him fight for his life. I needed to do something, or I was going to go crazy. Speaking to Oscar or Grace was not an option, as I wasn’t sure I could face them at the moment. Or ever.
I heard voices coming from the backyard, and I made my way there. I found Brian and Clive arguing with the four strangers, the man with the bald head doing most of the talking. Ethan and Ben stood tense behind Clarissa’s brothers. My appearance pressed the pause button on the quarrel and they all turned to look at me. I was distantly aware that blood still covered my clothes and hands, but it felt like too much of a bother to clean them. It’s not like it mattered
