Page 10 of Cavern of Silence

He steps outside.

In a panicky tone, she says, "You're leaving me?"

"No, ma'am. I'll be right outside the tent."

She looks at the others and winces when she sees Malin and Dirk.

Is she scared of them?

"Can I come with you?"

"I'm sorry, but it's best if you stay inside. When it's safe, you can come out, but right now, it's best to stay in here with the others."

She slowly releases her hands from my pecs. "Forgive me. I shouldn't have asked you that."

"You can ask me whatever you wish."

She says nothing, turns, and walks to the corner. She sits down, puts her hands over her face, and takes deep breaths.

I'm across the room, but I still notice her hands shaking. I take a blanket out of my backpack and lay it over her. I crouch down in front of her.

She removes her hands from her face. Tears are in her eyes, but they never fall.

"You're safe with us. No one will hurt you."

She blinks over and over and avoids my eyes.

"I need to go outside now, but I'll be back to take care of you."

She sniffles and mumbles, "I'm fine. No one can take care of me anyway."

I don't know why I do it. I haven't ever done it to a target before. But I stroke her cheek, and she closes her eyes. "I can, and I will. I'll be back as soon as possible." And just to torment myself some more, I brush my thumb over her gorgeous, shaking lips.

Her eyes open, and I can't read the expression, but I'm interrupted by Axel.

"Ryker. You need to get out here."

I say nothing else to her and position myself outside.

I don't know her story. All I see when I look at her is a beautiful woman full of pain.

What created her anguish?Something tells me it is deep and isn't due to her abduction.

Her face torments me. It rips into my wounds, taking me by surprise.

For the first time since Maureen, I'm worried about a woman.

Intriguing is an understatement when it comes to her. She's a mystery of problems I want to solve.

And my body reacts to her. It started when I first laid eyes on her picture. But the real-life version of Julieta Macaca, I underestimated.

Mission or not, I've been out of the game so long, I don't know what to do with any of it.

3

Julieta

It's not long,but it feels like forever before Ryker comes back into the tent.