Connection

Micah and Xavier were out in the woods, their Jeep making quick work of the terrain. They had stumbled upon a dying deer, its feeble existence hinting at the unforgiving nature of the Passageway. Perhaps it was old, having endured countless years in this desolate place, approaching the inevitable embrace of death’s cold grasp.

Xavier, the older and more experienced of the two, was at the wheel. He had been their savior during the escape from the Hemorrians, even though neither of them knew who these mysterious foes were at first. Micah gazed out the window, the landscape transformed from palm trees to sturdy oak. Xavier’s sudden question disrupted his thoughts.

“Hey, you okay?” Xavier inquired, his voice cutting through the silence.

Micah was caught off guard. “Yes, I am,” he stammered, surprised by the abruptness of the question.

“Are you sure?” Xavier persisted, a hint of concern in his voice.