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I turned onto ain and peered down at him I supposed I had at least a few minutes while Annora bathed before she returned and caused a distraction

I slid off my bed and climbed doard Caleb He lay on his back, his arms behind his head, his eyes wide open His eyes followed me as I crept toward him

Unlike Annora, I didn’t try to cli an eyebrow

I was relieved when he broke the silence and said in a deep voice, "You were trying to askearlier"

"Yes" I sed hard "Caleb, I--"

I froze A wave of screaht air

Caleb juround I went to follow him, but he looked back up over his shoulder and hissed, "No You stay where you are"

Ifroet a better of viehat the hell was going on I’d hoped at first that so awful had happened to Annora But the screams were from more than one person How could that be?

I cliet a clear view of the lake I spotted Annora standing on the bank, clutching her chest and shivering Caleb arrived by her side a second later, shaking her shoulders Then he left her and sprinted away into the jungle

I waited with bated breath for Caleb to return I had no idea how long I’d have to wait Annora returned in the nored her, keeping my eyes fixed on the spot where I’d seen Caleb disappear into the jungle

My heart pounded in le And then a third A fourth

The screams were loud, but they’d come from the distance somewhere

I looked down at Annora "Do you have any idea what that is?" I called

She scowled atfor a fifth wave of screams, but there wasn’t one They’d stopped The quiet sounds of the jungle returned I breathed out in relief as Caleb finally appeared at the foot of our tree and swung himself back up