How did I end up in this place again?
The thought rose slowly in Cain's mind, not as a calm question but as something tangled and restless, something that refused to settle no matter how much he tried to force it into place. His thoughts scattered the moment they formed, breaking apart into fragments that did not connect, each one pulling him in a different direction as he tried to make sense of the situation he had found himself in.
His body remained still, but inside, everything was moving too fast.
He could still feel them.
Their warmth.
Their closeness.
Their presence pressed against him in a way that made it impossible to think clearly.
This is bad.
The realization formed, heavy and undeniable.
This is very bad.
