Meeting

Chapter 5

Austin woke with a start, his breath shallow and quick. The paper tucked beneath his shirt emitted a faint glow, its hum almost imperceptible. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination or something far worse.

His dream had been no ordinary one. He was back in the basement - a monstrous eye looming, its gaze pulling him into an endless void. Whispers echoed in his mind, words he couldn't make out but felt deeply. They carried a weight, an accusation, and a promise. Shaking off the remnants of the nightmare, he swung his legs over the cot.

The rustle of fabric, muffled coughs, and low murmurs of early risers filled the air as the camp began to stir. Despite the familiar sounds, the atmosphere felt different. He clutched the paper for a moment, grounding himself in its texture, before tucking it away.

"Austin," Leah's voice broke through his thoughts. She stood at the doorway, her curly hair pulled into a loose bun, her face lit by a small smile that seemed to defy their grim reality.

"Morning. You okay? You look… restless."

"Didn't sleep great, Dreams." 

"The bad kind?" she asked, stepping beside him.

"Yeah. But nothing I can't handle." He forced a small grin, hoping it would deter further questions. Leah's concern was genuine, but the truth was too tangled, too dangerous to share.

The camp buzzed with activity. Jonas barked orders at a group reinforcing the barricades, while Colton stood near the central firepit, his dark eyes scanning the area with his usual intensity. Austin felt the man's gaze land on him briefly before moving on. It was a small gesture, but enough to remind Austin of the unease Colton's presence stirred in him.

"We're meeting soon," Leah said, nodding toward the firepit. "Colton wants to discuss some new strategies for patrols. You coming?"

Austin hesitated, glancing at the paper's outline beneath his shirt. "Yeah. I'll be there."

The meeting was tense, as most of them were. Colton took charge. Due to his military background, he outlined new patrol routes and emphasized the importance of vigilance, but how he spoke unsettled Austin. Every word felt calculated, every glance measured. It was as if Colton was building something unseen, laying foundations only he understood.

"Supplies are dwindling, " Jonas interjected, "If we don't find a better haul soon, we're screwed."

"We'll manage," Colton replied, his tone calm but firm. "But we need to be smart about it. Desperation makes us vulnerable. Mistakes get people killed."

Leah's voice cut through the tension. "Austin brought back some useful stuff yesterday. Maybe we can expand on that area and see if there's more to find."

All eyes turned to Austin, and he fought to keep his expression neutral.

"It's worth a shot. But it's risky. The area… didn't feel right."

Colton's gaze sharpened, his dark eyes narrowing as if trying to pry loose the truth from Austin's words.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just a feeling. Could've been nothing."

"Feelings matter," Colton said, his tone oddly thoughtful. "They're often the first warning signs we get."

The discussion shifted, but Austin could feel Colton's eyes on him, as though the man were peeling back layers he didn't want to be exposed. The meeting eventually dissolved, people scattering to their tasks, but the undercurrent of tension remained.

Later, as Austin worked on repairing a broken section of the barricade, Leah approached, her presence a welcome distraction. "You were quiet back there," she said, handing him a flask of water.

"Didn't have much to add," he replied, taking a sip. "Colton's got it handled."

"You don't trust him, do you?" she asked, her voice low.

Austin hesitated. "It's not that. I just… don't know him well enough yet."

Leah nodded, her expression thoughtful. "He's intense, sure. But he's not wrong about staying cautious. This world doesn't leave room for mistakes."

"Yeah," Austin murmured, his thoughts drifting. The paper beneath his shirt felt heavier than ever, its presence an anchor and a burden. Its cryptic message taunted him: The truth lies within. Return when you are ready. It wasn't just a puzzle; it was a warning, and maybe even a command. Austin couldn't shake the sensation that the paper held answers he wasn't prepared to face.

That night, sleep eluded him. When it finally came, it brought no rest. His dreams were fragmented - shadows shifting, whispers growing louder, and the eye always watching. The paper's glow seemed to pulse in time with his racing heart. It was no longer just an object; it felt alive, its presence growing more insistent.

Somewhere in the dream, he saw Leah, her face obscured by shadows. She reached for him, her voice drowned by the whispers. Austin woke with a jolt, his chest heaving. The paper's faint glow greeted him like an old specter, its cryptic message looping in his mind, louder than ever: Return when you are ready.