The air was crisp as we stepped outside, the morning sun barely cutting through the dense canopy of trees that surrounded the cabin. A part of me had hoped that the new day would bring some clarity, some sense of peace that had been missing since this whole nightmare began. But as I looked out into the thick forest, I realized that our journey was just beginning, and peace was a luxury we couldn't afford.
James walked ahead, his strides purposeful as he led the way. I could tell by the tension in his shoulders that he was as uneasy as I was, but he hid it well. He always did. I envied his ability to push through fear, to focus on the task at hand. My own anxiety clung to me like a second skin, impossible to shake off.
"Do you have any idea where we're going?" I asked, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.
