Page 9 of Captured on Film
“I want to get as far as we can.”
Something in the way he said it put Caleb’s back up. “Why?”
“Fresh tracks.”
“What kind?”
“Bear.”
Caleb frowned. “You think those guys who were spooked justsaw a bear?”
“Guess there’s a chance, but … this isn’t where they sawit.” Josheb started rolling up his sleeping bag. “We have a long hike to thesite. And we might run into some weather.”
Caleb knew the map. And the number of miles they couldhike on a good day.
But nature didn’t conform to anything resembling a schedule,which is why he begged for mercy barely a third of the way to their firstcampsite.
“I can’t do this,” he muttered. Then louder, to be heardover the rain, “Josheb, I can’t.”
“Giving up already?” Josheb’s teasing tone grated againstCaleb’s nerves. “It’s just a little rain.”
He white-knuckled Nessie’s leash. Rain wasn’t the problem.He could have put up with a little rain.
“Something wrong?” Josheb backtracked to where Caleb stood.“Hey. Bro?”
Yeah, something was wrong. The light rain had stirred uphundreds of tiny figments. They were kind of a cross between a newt and aninsect, silvery and slippery, with powerful back legs. Every step Caleb took,they sprang up like a field full of grasshoppers all around him, trailing lightthat burned into his retinas. He blinked dazzled eyes, barely able to see.
“What’s with you?” Closer, softer, Josheb asked, “Seesomething?”
Caleb flinched away from his brother’s hand. “I’m not doingthe thing for you.”
Josheb’s eyes narrowed. “But you’re seeing stuff anyhow?”
“Oh, for the love of …! If I could stop, I would!”
His brother gaped at him. “It’s always on?”
Eyes shut. Teeth gritted. “Constantly.”
“Are you okay?”
“Far from it.” Caleb had lied so much about the things hecould see. It was something of a relief to tell the truth.
Josheb was the only person who’d ever believed Caleb. Becauseif they were touching, Josheb would glimpse the same things. Maybe that was whythe idiot believed in so much other nonsense. It was Caleb’s fault. He nevershould have told his brother about the figments. Never should have started “thething.”
The secret they’d shared had become the wedge that drovethem apart. Because Caleb had learned to resent Josheb, who only came to him inorder to see something beyond him. Treating his own brother like one of hisfine-tuned instruments for paranormal detection.
One brother believing in all the things he couldn’t see.
One brother wishing he was blind to unbelievable things.
Better Together
“Show me?” begged Josheb, offering both hands.
Caleb glared for all he was worth, but he already knew he’dgive in. He didn’t want to be alone in the strangeness, so he seized hisbrother’s wrist.
“Ow!” Josheb protested. “Ease up a little … whoa!”
