#dex 3

   Technically, Sebastian had been told not to leave the estate without supervision, and for a few days, he’d even heeded that advice. Security had been heightened, though only subtly so as not to frighten those who were ignorant of the events occurring during the party. Still, it had been difficult to slip out of the estate’s ground without raising any alarm. He’d gone to his favorite gallery to calm himself, feeling outside his body and outside of the events that had happened in the past week. He just needed some time to think and plan what his next steps were, if there were even any to take. His kidnappers’ words kept repeating in his mind at night, making it hard to sleep. When he left the gallery, the words returned to him, following him down the street as he looked for a cab to hail.

   Instead, his eyes caught on something much worse.

   Dex was walking with his back turned to Sebastian, turning a corner and disappearing out of sight. If Sebastian had only looked up a few seconds later, he wouldn’t have seen him at all. New words started to flood his mind, memories of what had happened with Dex before he’d been taken. ‘Caring gets you killed. Or worse.’ Had he known? Had Dex been involved? The thought made him grow cold with dread, his whole body shuddering.

   Without thinking, Sebastian quickly crossed the street and followed after Dex, made it just in time to see him making another turn down a smaller side street. Sebastian stayed up-wind, making sure not to let Dex catch his sent and keeping a wide distance between them. Eventually, they made their way to the outskirts of the city, where the streets were lined with warehouses not unlike the place he and Roman had been kept. The heavy unease in Sebastian’s stomach grew. But Dex didn’t enter any of the warehouses, instead he entered a small building, and when Sebastian approached it, he realized it was a dingy little coffee shop. This was definitely not what he’d been expecting. After a few seconds, the curiosity got the better of him, and Sebastian pushed the tiny door open, and a jingle of bells sounded. He looked around the shop, but Dex wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Tentatively, Sebastian went to the counter and leaned over it to see what might be behind it.