The Mind of a Nephilim

"It would of been worth it to get you and Phillip back - you know how scared you were when he was taken? I had to experience and live that twice over, because I lost him and you and I had no idea what had happened to either one of you!” He burst out and ran shaking fingers through his hair, before sighing deeply. “I honestly don’t know, Cal. I don’t have a child, so I couldn’t tell you how I’d react in that situation, but I think I’d want as much help from my family as possible.” Adam looked troubled, before he sighed and twisted to face her, before nodding slowly and holding his arms out.

"Yeah, I know how scared I was. I was so scared that I couldn't wait, and I couldn't risk getting you hurt." She whispered, gulping softly and focusing on his words. "I'm sorry, Adam. I know I messed up. I know that. And I know that it's ridiculous to say this, but to me, I didn't have a choice. I was not going to risk losing you." Cal said, managing to keep her voice steady, although her body language and her eyes showed how hurt and upset she was. Not with him, obviously. But with herself and the whole situation. "Can't we just... Be glad that we are all okay? I don't know if you would react like that, but I don't think we should be discussing that. I handled the situation like that, and yeah, it may have been the wrong way, and I know that I should have contacted you in some way, but that's done. I can't change that. I'm really, really sorry, but all I can do now is hope that you will give me a second chance." The girl let out a breath, closing her eyes for a brief moment as she massaged her temples. She wasn't trying to be rude or to have an argument with him, but Caleigh was simply trying to show him that she did acknowledge that she had made a mistake. Letting out a sigh of relief once he gave her permission to hug him, Cal hesitantly moved towards him and sat on the couch, instantly wrapping her arms around his figure gently, yet tightly, hiding her face against his neck as she felt a few more tears running down her face. "I can't tell you how much I missed you." She whispered. 

"You could of asked me for help, Cal! You and Phillip, you’re family, and it hurts that you couldn’t even come to me properly - I knew you were going to get him, but the fact that you went alone…it could of ended up so much worse, and I wouldn’t of ever known about it!" Adam whirled to face her, narrowed eyes flashing as he bit down on his trembling bottom lip. "Of course I’m willing…I don’t want to be alone again, Cal - all I have is Kodak now, and I love him so much, but I really missed my big sister…" He choked out and dug his nails into his thighs, shaking with the need to hug her.

"I didn't want to risk losing you, Adam. What if you had gotten hurt?" She cried out. "I know that you can protect yourself, and that Kodak would have healed you, but... It would have been my fault! Just try and put yourself in my place... Imagine if someone took your child from you, and the only person who could help you was me. Would you ask for my help even though I could get hurt? Even though I could get killed? And would you sit down and come up with an actual plan when the life of your child is in danger?" Caleigh insisted. She felt weak. Weak, tired, anxious... Her body was pretty much begging for some sort of comfort and a good night of sleep, but all she could do was stand there, crying, wishing that she could make things better. The girl felt more tears roll down her cheeks, and she gulped quietly. "I missed you too... I really did... Can I... Can I hug you?" She asked in a small whisper, looking at him shakily.

At the sight of her tears, Adam grimaced, wanting to go to her, to embrace one another to make themselves feel better, but he just wasn’t ready yet. He needed to convey to her how much he had hurt, how much he was still hurting, before he could even begin to forgive her. She couldn’t just expect to waltz back into his life after a year, even if he wanted her to.  ”I had no idea what was going on. And I can protect myself, Cal - you forget who I’m married to, and what he would do if I was taken. If we’d of known where you and Phillip were…we would of been there instantly, but we didn’t even know where to look!”

If she was given the permission to go to him, Caleigh would do it in that instant. But the girl knew that she had to respect his time now. And so she used a lot of her strength to stand there without reaching for him, without curling up on the couch by his side like they used to do. "I know, I know... I..." She shook her head, looking up at him again, unable to hold back her crying. "They had taken my son, Adam. What was I supposed to do? Come up with a plan? A strategy? I know it was stupid, and I know it was risky, but all I could think about was getting Phillip back. I wasn't thinking straight. I just... Needed to get him back." Cal admitted, feeling her chest tightening as she fought the tears. "I don't expect you to forgive me just like that. I... I still have hope that someday I'll make it up to you and earn your forgiveness, but I need to know if you are willing to let me work on that." She sniffled, running a hand through her hair, trying to calm down.

"You have no idea how glad I am that you’re back, Caleigh, but…I’m upset, angry…you didn’t once let me know where you were and you have no idea how worried I was! I thought I had lost my big sister, like I lose everyone else and…” He trailed off and dropped down to the sofa, burying his face in his hands as he let out a shuddering breath. “I need to know what happened, okay? I need to know where you went and why you couldn’t let me know that you and Phillip were safe. I’m not a little kid anymore, Cal, and I can protect myself. I think that sometimes, you forget that.” He whispered hoarsely, gazing over at her finally, tears streaming down his face.

"I know, I... I'm sorry, Adam..." She gulped, watching him and holding her breath as he sat down. Shaking her head a little, Caleigh used her hands to wipe off a few tears from her face, and listened to him, still standing close to Phillip. "O-okay." The girl nodded, fidgeting hands resting by her sides. She wished he would look at her. But then, if he did, it would be with that heartbreaking look, and Caleigh didn't know if she could handle those for much longer. "I c-can't help it... You..." She stopped herself as he finally faced her again, his tears making her whimper under her breath. "You are my little brother, and... Adam, they would have k-killed you." Her voice had dropped a little and she ducked her head slightly. "I was scared... I was scared of losing you. I couldn't risk it." She whispered brokenly. 

Ignoring Max and Phillip, for the moment, Adam remained with his back turned to Caleigh, trying to process everything that she was telling him whilst attempting to keep his temperature under control, and he trembled, his arms wrapping loosely around his skinny waist. “I don’t know what you want me to say. You couldn’t of sent a text or anything? You just vanished, Cal, and that was after you went looking for Phillip - how was I to know that he hadn’t gotten you to? I was so scared and I thought that I’d lost someone else and…” He broke off and shook his head furiously, whirling to face her as his eyes flashed, “What? You’re just going to leave me again, is that what you’re saying?”

Meanwhile, Caleigh was trying to figure out a way to make Adam look back at her. She desperately wanted to make things better between them, but she knew that she had done something terrible. Watching him shake like that reminded her of when they first met. It seemed like so long, and it probably was, but she remembered a lot of it. When he spoke, it felt like she was being slapped on the face multiple times. He was right, though, and that was even more painful. The girl let out a small gasp once he turned to face her, and her eyes went wide as she shook her head. "No!" Caleigh cried out. "Adam, no... I'm not leaving again. I don't want to leave. But... If you don't want to see me again, I'll... I'll have to respect that, even though it would kill me." She admitted, looking into his eyes. "Please... Adam, I've missed you so much... I know I screwed up, okay? I know that. I should have called or done something, but I was scared that they were going to find not only me, but you as well." The girl said, her voice breaking a little as she desperately tried to hold back the tears forming in her own eyes. 

"I thought you were dead." Adam finally whispered hoarsely, voice cracking as his eyes filled with tears, his skinny shoulders rigid as he hovered where he was. He didn’t know whether he wanted to run away and hide in his room, or lunge at her and hug her tight, but either way, he felt like he was about to burst out crying at any moment.

Her eyes went a bit wide at the words that greeted her once she was standing, and she could feel herself breaking. But she held her lips together, trying to control her breathing so she wouldn't let her eyes water. It didn't work, but at least there were no tears rolling down her face yet. "I'm s-sorry." The girl breathed out, taking a hesitant step towards him, but not moving any further, scared of his reaction. "Adam, I... I really am sorry. You have no idea..." She looked down, checking on Phillip shortly before focusing on him again. "I understand if you... If you don't want to s-see me again."

On a day that started like no other, Adam was curled up on the sofa, reading, so he didn’t register the noises of someone approaching the house, despite the fact that Max’s ears had perked up, the dog staring intently at the door. But when he heard the knock, he sighed deeply and set his book aside, approaching the door to open it, his eyes widening with shock when they latched onto the person standing there before him.

Her green eyes, which had not left Adam's ever since he had opened the door, were heavy with guilt, and she gulped quietly, taking in another deep breath. "I know it's... It's been a long time, and I am really sorry I left like that, but... I was wondering if I could talk to you? Maybe?" She asked carefully, her voice showing how nervous she was. 

"Hope’s never a bad thing, you’ve just got to be realistic sometimes. But you will see him again, it just might take a while. But I’ll help you, okay? I’ll do what I can to help." He vowed solemnly and tightened his hold around her. "What do you mean?"

"Alright." She nodded, whispering softly and really wanting to believe him, but she didn't. Caleigh was starting to accept that she would probably never see her brother again. And there was nothing she could do about that. "I mean.... That we were kinda... Uh... Cuddling and sleeping without being properly dressed..." Cal blushed darkly.

"They won’t. I don’t know how but I’ll come up with a plan and I’ll get Phillip back, I promise."

"Hold my hand. We have to get to The Fields as quick as possible."

"What surprise?" He demanded. "I know you sent that....yellow eyed thing. But I didn't let him touch Phillip." He told the Boogeyman.

"Oh, but my dear Jack... He wasn't asking for your permission. In fact, if you had told him no, it would only make it more exciting!" Pitch smirked dirtily at him, running one long finger down Jack's face. "Anyway... You were too late. You and the Nephilim."

Pitch chuckled and nodded his head. “The shadows. You heard right. It is located at my home in the darkness. You can try to find it but good luck. It will be difficult and you can’t have any help from me since you seem to have made me human.”

Fumbling her fingers a little, to keep her hands occupied, she took in a deep breath and looked at her Master. "It wasn't my fault. I never intended on doing this, and I'm really sorry it happened, Sir. I..." She stopped herself and nodded quietly. "Alright." Caleigh turned towards the darkness in the cave and focused on it. "Terror." She called, smiling softly as the Nightmare appeared by her side. "You are coming with me. Sir? Please, take care. Of both Phillip and yourself. I will do my best not to take long." And with that, she stepped into the shadows, followed by Terror.