Cadence’s hands were shaking as she carefully unzipped the backpack. “It’s go time, my friend,” she said as she took the plastic bag out of the backpack and carefully set it on the ground. She was hopeful that the bag would be empty when she put it away, but she reminded herself that she promised she wouldn’t pressure him into anything.

In the other compartment, she’d tucked away the container she’d selected, an empty bucket from one of Elliott’s favorite establishments—KFC. It had gotten a bit smooshed, but she reshaped it and took both items over away from the darkness cast from the plateau.

She located a place that seemed...