𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊, Lydia Martin

prologue

DRY LEAVES CRUNCHED UNDER HIS BOOTS as the twelve year-old boy jumped off the fallen tree trunk, almost slipping on the muddy ground in his rush to catch up with his parents walking ahead of him. The forest around him was dim, the thick foliage and overcast sky blocking out most of the sunlight.

"Mama!" His youthful features, not yet changed by puberty, contorted to show a bright smile—one that his mother instantly mirrored when he reached her side, dimples on full display.

"Yes, my love?" The blonde woman, only a few inches taller than him, answered as she moved to wrap her left arm around her son, her other arm holding a bag with groceries. To her right, her husband, holding a bag to match hers, remained focused on the trail in front of them, ears tuned for any sign of their friends or other child nearby.

"So, I had an idea.."

"Mhm?"

"Do you think we could maybe have a small bonfire tonight?" He pressed himself deeper into his mother's side as a cool breeze passed them, the weather in Arkansas not getting better despite what meteorologists had predicted for late January. "We've only got a couple more days here and it'll be months before we're all together again..." He trailed off, turning instead to give his parents the best puppy eyes he could manage.

"Hmm." Florence tucked a loose strand of golden hair behind her ear. Even in the dimness, it still managed to catch the light. "I don't know, Tobes. Everyone seemed pretty tired after the hike this morning." 

"But—"

"But," His father interrupted him before he could argue, his tone firm before he softened at the sight of his pouting first-born. "We could do it tomorrow."

"Really?" Tobias halted, grinning up at his dad.

"On one condition," James held up an index finger as he and his wife stopped walking, both smiling down at their son.

"Yes. Anything." The boy bounced on the balls of his feet, eager.

"We're gonna need some more sticks if we want to build a proper bonfire."

"I'm on it!" Tobias called back, already darting off down the trail toward their cabin, grabbing every dry stick he could find. He could hear his parents chuckling behind him, their voices fading as he focused on his task.

It hadn't even been a few minutes, and his arms were already full—so full, in fact, that he didn't see the rock in his path.

Before he could react, the ground shifted beneath him, and he went down hard. Cold mud smeared across his face, his knees stinging where his jeans had ripped.

"Aw, fudge nuggets," Tobias groaned, pushing himself up onto his knees, spitting out dirt. He glanced at his pile of sticks—now just as muddy as he was—and felt frustration prick behind his eyes. He bit down on his tongue, doing his best to keep it in check.

"Dad! Ma!" He called out, but his voice lacked enthusiasm. He sighed, standing up and abandoning the ruined branches.

A twig snapped behind him.

Assuming it was one of his parents, he started explaining, hoping to avoid getting scolded for failing such a simple task. "I fell. I didn't see the rock, and then—"