When All is Null and Void

Chapter Twenty-Seven

 With huffing breaths, Titus recounted Caleb's tale. Sweat dribbled down in spine in lukewarm streams and he shivered against the chilly air coming from the vent above him. Having left Danielle sleeping on her padded front porch swing, Titus Hopped to the front steps of the Estate and run to find Rhea. She was in her room, braiding her hair when he barged in.

"He was in the Void," Titus explained. "He has Ringlock!"

Rhea James, ever the calm woman, stared at Titus with searching, parental eyes. She wouldn't speak until he was finished. Titus flapped his arms against his sides.

"How did this happen?" she asked.

"We were looking for the leak, and this girl walked in on us. She started threatening to tell someone. I didn't see what happened. I was...hiding. One second they were arguing, the next they were gone, and the leak was right there in the doorway." Though he'd changed, upon Titus' return to the Estate, his ring had deposited him back in the cowboy costume from the party. He yanked the Stetson from his head and worked the brim between his fingertips. Titus' hair was sweaty and matted, and it lankily over his forehead.

Rhea nodded. "I'll see to Caleb later this afternoon." Her pointer fingers were pressed over her lips and somehow she seemed...defeated. Caleb wasn't Voidsick, but only because that wasn't possible. Ringlock was no better. The unfortunate risk of a Timewalker.

For Caleb to have it, though... He was supposed to be their supposed "savior."

"Do you need anything?" Titus asked, edging toward the door. He needed a shower and a cup of tea.

"Can I see your ring?" she asked, holding out a hand.

"Why?" He rarely removed his ring.

"Because I want to be sure you're safe." She waggled her fingers in a Give it here motion.

Frowning, Titus pulled the band from his finger and tossed it over. Rhea closed her eyes and cupped the ring between her hands. A tiny, high pitch squeal filled the room for a fraction of a second before silencing. Having noticed nothing of concern, Rhea handed Titus the ring back. He slid it on again.

"Can I go?" he asked.

"I need you to go with me to the hospital this week. I need your help."

"No problem," Titus said. He put the Stetson back on his head and gave a click with the back of his tongue. "I'm off to shower. Lemme know if Caleb dies."

"He won't die," Rhea called after him.

"Never know with saviors," Titus shouted as he strode down the hallway to his bedroom.

He was only joking, but a pit of worry lodged itself in Titus' gut. That is, until he was under the hot water and a Taylor Swift song from 2020 was blaring over the speakers. His voice drowned out the thoughts.