Page 121 of Wicked Nightmare

He gave a small nod, his eyes never leaving Kyle. "Alright then," Cam said, clapping his hands together as he walked towards the couch. "Let's chat."

The smell of greasy pepperoni filled the room as we gathered around the coffee table, the cardboard pizza box a flimsy barrier between us and our unexpected guests. Sarah grabbed a slice before wrinkling her nose. Guess Cam hadn't bothered ordering a half and half.

"So," Cam said, taking a massive bite. "You mentioned intel?"

Kyle nodded. "We've got locations, security details, the works, but first, let's just eat. Talk. Get to know each other a bit."

I snorted. "What is this, a fucking playdate?"

Sarah shot me a look that was half amusement, half exasperation. "More like a ceasefire. We're all on edge. Might as well try to relax a little."

As much as I hated to admit it, she had a point. I took a bite of pizza, studying our new "allies." Kyle sat stiff, his fingers drumming against his thigh, the only sign that he wasn't as calm as he looked. But Sarah was steady. Too steady. It was unsettling.

"So, Sarah," I said. "What's your deal? What have you been up to all these years?"

She met my gaze. "Little bit of this, little bit of that."

I smiled. A real one. "Right, how are we supposed to get to know you," I air-quoted, "if you won't be a bit more specific?"

As we ate, the conversation loosened. Sarah shared stories of their recent escapades, each one more ridiculous than the last. Something about heading into a small outpost and barely escaping, but as they ran, her sweater got caught on an edge, causing it to unravel the further she walked. I found myself laughing despite my reservations.

But as the pizza dwindled, I noticed Sarah's attention shifting to Rose. Our newest addition had been quiet throughout the meal, her shoulders hunching inward, trying to make herself as small as possible.

"Rose," Sarah said softly, setting down her plate. "I was hoping we could talk a bit. About what you've been through."

Rose stiffened, her knuckles turning white around her slice. "I... I don't know if I can."

A surge of protectiveness hit me, surprising myself. "Hey, lay off her, alright? She's been through enough. She doesn't know you well enough to trust you with that shit."

Sarah held up her hands. "I understand, but I might be able to help. I've developed a technique for processing trauma. It's helped me, and others like us."

I narrowed my eyes. "What kind of technique?"

"A form of guided meditation and cognitive restructuring," Sarah explained. "It helps reframe traumatic memories, makes them easier to manage."

Rose looked up. "Does... does it really work?"

Sarah nodded. "It's not a magic fix, but it can make things more bearable. Would you like to try?"

I watched Rose closely, ready to step in, but to my surprise, she gave a small nod.

"Okay," she whispered. "I'll try."

As Sarah began to guide Rose through the process, her voice low and soothing, I found myself caught between suspicion and something I didn't want to name. Maybe we'd found allies worth keeping around. Or maybe they were gonna activate some hidden words in Rose and turn her into a psychotic killing machine. It was a toss-up, so all we could do was sit and wait.

Kyle moved silently, positioning himself behind Sarah. His presence was protective, solid. I couldn't help but notice the way he operated. All business, no bullshit. He reminded me of a more polished Cam, actually. Bigger, if that was possible.

Rose's eyes darted between Sarah and Kyle. But as Kyle gave her a subtle nod, something shifted in her expression. The fear didn't vanish, but it loosened.

"It's okay, Rose," Sarah murmured. "Kyle's here to make sure you're safe. We all are."

I snorted internally. Safe? We'd proven ourselves to her, but they hadn't. I kept my mouth shut. Curiosity winning out.

Rose took a shaky breath. "I... I don't know where to start," she whispered.

"Just close your eyes," Sarah instructed. "Take a deep breath. We're going to create a safe space in your mind."

Rose's eyes fluttered shut. Her breathing steadied, each one a little calmer than the last.