“Be very careful,” his mother said. She blinked back tears and she held out a small backpack. “In case you get hungry.” “Thank you,” Adrielle replied with a warm smile. “I got it,” Vanguard said, taking it from her. “As the leader of the group, I should definitely carry this.” Everett gave his mother a hug and waved at the rest of his family. “I’ll be back, I promise.” “Sa,” Annie called out. Everett smiled. “I’ll be safe.” He followed the others out the door. As he walked down the porch steps, he was hit by the enormity of leaving his home. It was one thing to sneak out for a walk through the tunnels at night, and another by far to go on an expedition past the wall to some unknown vampire community in the hopes of rescuing his city. The question of if he would return lingered in the back of his mind. Everett shoved it away, determined to he would keep his promise.
