Dylan had woken with a gasp, clutching his side, reaching for his phone before she was even sitting up. It rang almost instantly, and Dylan had a clipped conversation with whoever was on the other end. He didn’t take time to explain, just told her to get dressed as practically as possible and flew around, getting dressed himself and gathering a few things into a rucksack.
Only in his car did he explain a little, that something was wrong with the Pack, and that they were meeting Kitty and Jonas. He was more on edge than Carmen had ever seen him. She mostly just stayed quiet, one hand reaching out to rest on his shoulder, not in the way but there. He parked at a rest stop and got out, leading her into the woods. She understood his directive about practical clothes better now. He stopped a few times to make sure she was still okay before setting off again. In the dark forest, she had more of a chance to think about what was happening, and more time to be afraid. More time to worry, to let her own thoughts become a vicious, terrifying circle. Suddenly she realized how dark it had gotten in the trees with no moon above them. Realized she couldn’t see Dylan, could only hear him, quietly moving away from where she stood frozen. Panic gripped her, arms wrapping around her body as her eyes opened wide, trying to find any light.
“I can’t see anything,” she said, but her voice sounded too loud in the quiet forest, fear amplifying it in her ears.