Chapter 7: Earning Trust

I didn’t take the leash, just walked outside and looked back at him. The porch creaked beneath my boots, and the wind tugged at my hair.

His eyes shifted, and he followed. His steps were slow, hesitant, as if he was waiting for permission to exist.

He obediently trailed me all the way to the cottage I’d rented. The distance between us felt like miles, even though he was only a few steps behind.

I looked back at him, curious. "Aren’t you afraid I’ll treat you worse than Vincent? Didn’t you think of running away?"

A flicker of emotion finally appeared in Caleb’s eyes at my question. His lips parted, and his brow furrowed ever so slightly.

“Where would I run?” His voice was rough, like sandpaper scraping wood, as if he hadn’t drunk water in days. His shoulders hunched, defensive.

“Anywhere. Just run.” My words were gentle, almost pleading.

A trace of mockery crossed his eyes. “Even if I run, they’d catch me and bring me back. Why bother?” He shifted his weight, glancing at the door as if measuring the odds.

My heart tightened, guilt rising like bile. I wished I could erase his memories, offer him something better.

“I gave all my silver to Vincent. Our days may be tough, but I promise—I won’t let you suffer like before.” I tried to sound confident, but my voice trembled at the edges.

Caleb’s expression remained impassive, his face carved from stone. He watched me for a moment, waiting for some spark of hope to flicker in his eyes. But he just stood there, shoulders hunched against the wind, as if the world had taught him not to expect kindness. I wanted to reach out, maybe offer a handshake like we did back home, but the distance between us felt miles wide. "We’ll figure it out, okay?" I said, voice softer now, hoping he'd believe me.