Not a Mirage

It was not until the first light of dawn began to paint the horizon that Callie finally settled into an exhausted sleep. Elias’s fingers brushed against her hair, still damp from yet another shower. His calm face masked the maelstrom of thoughts that raged within him. As his mind played out scenarios of vengeance, Elias’s grip on Callie tightened, vowing silently to shield her from harm’s reach. He shuddered at the thought of what could have happened if he had not made it back in time, if Callie had been left alone in the clutches of Simon. *** The blinding sunlight streamed through the curtains, painting the room in shades of gold. Callie’s eyes fluttered open, her mind still foggy from a nightmarish haze. Her heart raced as she tried to piece together what had happened. The last clear thought she had was talking to Simon, relieved and glad that he was finally leaving the academy, and then… She bolted upright, her chest heaving as the memories rushed back like a tidal wave. The pain i