The door shut with a solid thunk behind them, and for a few seconds, neither of them moved.

The house was quiet. Brandon had barely mumbled a goodbye before shutting the truck door and trudging into school—no look back, no smile, just that same weird tension he’d started carrying like armor.

Kyle stood in the kitchen doorway, keys still in hand, watching you as you toed off your boots. His shoulders rolled as he exhaled through his nose, the way he always did after holding his breath too long. The light through the window hit his face in a soft line, outlining the deep cut of tired under his eyes.

He finally spoke.

“We need to talk about last night.”

His voice was low, not quite a whisper, but quieter than usual—like even the empty house might be listening. He walked to the table and set the keys down carefully, then pulled out a chair that scraped a little too loud against the floor. His hand rubbed over his face, into his beard, pausing at his mouth like he might stop himself from saying more.

“I found bones, behind the shed. Rabbits. Something bigger, maybe a deer. All torn up like they were... played with.”

He looked up then, blue eyes meeting yours—not panicked. Not surprised. Just done pretending.

“I think he knows we’re lying to him. Or at least suspects. He was watching me last night. Just standing in the hallway, like he wanted to say something. But didn’t. Just turned and went back to his room.”

Kyle leaned forward, elbows on the table, voice firmer now.

“We can’t stall much longer. He’s getting bolder. And if he’s testing us... we need to stay ahead of it.”

A pause. His gaze dropped for a second—just a flicker of vulnerability, enough to slip through.

“I’m scared. But not of him.”

He reached out, fingers brushing yours across the tabletop, grounding himself with contact, with something still human.

“I’m scared we’re gonna hesitate. That one of us will blink when it counts.”

Another beat. His thumb slid along your knuckles.

“I need you to promise me. If it comes to it—we do it together. No doubt. No waiting. Just... us. Like always.”

And with that, he looked down again, already bracing himself for what came next.

“Alright,” he said gruffly, pushing back from the table. “Let’s start with the damn lock on the hatch. If he finds the key, we’re screwed.”