Chapter Twenty-Six

The dingy motel room was a mere pit stop on our journey, a brief respite before we plunged back into the wilderness. Now, as we sat in the heart of this new forest, tension crackled in the air. Sara, Aiden, and Calix kept a watchful eye on us, their presence a constant reminder of the danger that lurked in the shadows.

Easton and I had spent the past hour practicing basic telepathic techniques. A simple warm-up, he'd called it, a precursor to the more complex lessons that would determine our fate. The others watched intently, their curiosity a double-edged sword. It provided a distraction, but it also made me self-conscious.

"You've done well so far with blocking thoughts," Easton said, his voice low. "But what I'm about to teach you won't be easy."

"Nothing has been easy so far," I replied, my tone weary.

"Yeah, well, what I'm about to show you will make everything else seem like a walk in the park," Easton warned, a glint of challenge in his eyes.