Chasing the storm

Chapter 39: The Storm Inside and Out

(Sienna's POV)

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Caleb Took the Seat Next to Me.

Rowan was still standing near the window, his body tense, his gaze locked on the raging storm outside.

Ava was gone—still pissed.

Oliver was slouched in a chair, arms crossed, muttering to himself.

And then there was Caleb.

He sat down beside me, glancing at my bandaged leg, his brows pulling together slightly.

"Still hurting?" he asked, his voice lower than before.

I sighed, leaning my head back against the wall. "I'll live."

Caleb exhaled, shaking his head. "You shouldn't have been out there that long."

I huffed a small, humorless laugh. "Yeah, well, I didn't exactly plan to get caught in a storm, Caleb."

His jaw tightened, but he didn't argue.

I could feel Rowan still watching.

Even though his back was to me, even though he was pretending to focus on the storm—he was listening.

And for some reason, that made me even more aware of Caleb sitting next to me.

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The Fear No One Wanted to Admit

The wind outside screamed, rattling the windows.

A particularly loud crash of thunder shook the room, and I swore I saw Oliver flinch.

Caleb exhaled slowly. "This storm isn't normal."

"No shit," Oliver muttered, running a hand down his face.

For once, I agreed with him.

It had been days.

Days of relentless wind, endless rain, and a creeping sense of something worse just waiting beyond the darkness.

I didn't know what.

I just knew that everyone here felt it, even if they weren't saying it out loud.

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Caleb Was the Only One Willing to Talk About It.

"This isn't just a storm," he said quietly, eyes flickering toward Rowan. "You know that, right?"

Rowan's back was still turned.

His shoulders stiffened just slightly.

But he didn't speak.

Didn't react.

Which meant Caleb was right.

I frowned, shifting in my seat. "What do you mean?"

Caleb hesitated.

Then he looked back at me, his face unreadable.

"I mean, it doesn't feel like just a storm. It feels like something else is coming."

Something cold ran down my spine.

I didn't want to believe him.

Didn't want to acknowledge the fear already curling in my chest.

But I did.

Because he was right.

---

Rowan Finally Spoke.

His voice was sharp. "Then stop talking about it like it's some prophecy."

Caleb turned fully to face him. "Ignoring it won't change anything."

Rowan exhaled sharply, finally looking at him.

"I'm not ignoring it," he said, voice lower now. "I'm waiting."

Waiting for what?

That was what no one was saying.

And I didn't like the way my stomach twisted at the thought.

---

Caleb Looked Back at Me.

His eyes softened just slightly.

"You okay?" he asked again, voice quieter.

It was a stupid question.

None of us were okay.

But I knew what he meant.

He was asking if I was holding it together.

I inhaled slowly, then nodded. "Yeah."

Caleb didn't look convinced.

Oliver scoffed from his chair. "None of us are, so why bother lying?"

I shot him a glare. "For morale, Oliver. Try it sometime."

Caleb let out a quiet chuckle. "You're still sharp. That's a good sign."

And even though the storm outside raged on, and fear still sat heavy in my chest…

For just a second, the weight didn't feel so unbearable.