Chasing Shadows

Chapter Fifty-Three: Shadows of Ambition

The base felt strangely empty as Ethan led Callum down the main corridor, the soft hum of the overhead lights the only sound accompanying their footsteps. He cast a quick glance at the boy beside him, trying to gauge his mood. Callum was taking everything in with an almost predatory focus, his gaze darting from one feature of the base to the next like he was cataloging it for later.

“So, uh… this is the main operations hub,” Ethan said, gesturing to a series of rooms branching off to their right. His voice echoed slightly in the narrow space, making the silence that followed feel even more awkward. “We monitor all incoming reports here, plan our patrols, that sort of thing.”

Callum’s eyes flicked to Ethan, then back to the doors, his lips quirking up into a small, unreadable smile. “I see.”

Ethan shifted uncomfortably, forcing himself to continue. “And over there,” he pointed to a steel door further down the hall, “that’s the armory. You probably won’t need much from there right away, but once you’re more familiar with our equipment—”

Callum let out a low chuckle, the sound soft but mocking. “I think I can handle it.”

Ethan hesitated, caught off-guard. He glanced at Callum, who was watching him with a look that bordered on amusement, his eyes glittering with something Ethan couldn’t quite place.

“Right,” Ethan muttered, clearing his throat. “Of course.”

Silence fell between them again, thick and uncomfortable. Ethan gritted his teeth, willing himself to ignore the strange, unsettling vibe he was getting from the new recruit. He’d thought this would be easier—just show the guy around, get it over with. But Callum’s presence was starting to grate on his nerves, his casual dismissiveness digging under Ethan’s skin.

“Anyway,” Ethan continued, trying to keep his tone light, “the training room’s through here.” He pushed open a door, revealing a spacious area filled with various pieces of exercise equipment, a boxing ring, and a sparring mat.

Callum took a few steps inside, his gaze sweeping over the room with a slow, almost deliberate intensity. Then he turned back to Ethan, raising an eyebrow. “So, this is where the magic happens, huh? Where the big bad heroes train to save the day?”

There was something in his voice—something that sounded suspiciously like derision. Ethan felt his shoulders tense, but he forced a smile, refusing to rise to the bait.

“Yeah, pretty much,” Ethan said, his tone deliberately neutral. He gestured to the equipment. “We spend a lot of time here. Keeps us sharp.”

Callum hummed thoughtfully, his eyes still lingering on Ethan. “Sure. For those who need it.”

The comment landed like a slap, subtle but cutting. Ethan blinked, caught off-guard by the casual arrogance in Callum’s words. He opened his mouth to respond, but Callum was already moving past him, walking around the training room as if he owned the place.

“So, what else do you do around here?” Callum asked over his shoulder, his tone light and almost teasing. “Besides playing sidekick, I mean.”

Ethan’s jaw clenched. Sidekick. The word hit harder than it should have, striking at a vulnerability he hadn’t known was so raw. He took a slow breath, steadying himself before answering.

“I’m not a sidekick,” Ethan said quietly. “We’re a team. Everyone contributes.”

Callum turned to face him fully, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “Right. Sure.” He took a step closer, his gaze flicking up and down as if sizing Ethan up. “But, I mean… let’s be real here. Asher’s the one who makes the big calls, right? You’re just… there. Along for the ride.”