The road stretched endlessly before them, the headlights of the old station wagon cutting through the inky blackness of the night. Miel gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white with tension. The adrenaline that had carried them through the last few hours was beginning to fade, leaving a bone-deep exhaustion in its wake.
Jasmine was silent beside her, staring out the window at the blur of passing trees. Maxwell, sensing the unease in the air, had shifted restlessly in the backseat before finally settling down, his head resting on his paws as he watched the two women with wide, concerned eyes.Nina sat in the back, her gaze focused intently on the road ahead. Every so often, she would glance at Miel through the rearview mirror, her expression unreadable. Miel could feel the weight of her stare but chose to ignore it, concentrating instead on the task of driving.Hours passed in tense silence, the only sounds being the steady hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of leaves as they passed by. Miel's thoughts were a chaotic mess, racing between what had just transpired and the uncertainty of what lay ahead. The plan to leave the cabin had been hastily made, driven by the ever-present fear of being caught. But now that they were on the road again, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a trap."How much farther?" Jasmine's voice broke the silence, startling Miel slightly. It was the first time she had spoken since they left the cabin.Nina leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the road ahead. "Not much longer. There's a town about twenty miles from here. We can find a place to lay low for the night, then decide our next move in the morning.""A town?" Miel asked, skepticism lacing her tone. "I thought we were trying to avoid places like that.""We are," Nina replied, her voice calm and measured. "But we need supplies, and a place to rest where we won't draw attention. We can't keep running on empty."Jasmine sighed, rubbing her temples with her fingers. "We don't have much of a choice. We need to stop."Miel knew Jasmine was right. They were all running on fumes, physically and emotionally. The last few days had taken a toll on them, and the idea of finding a place to rest, even for a few hours, was too tempting to ignore."Fine," Miel muttered, her eyes scanning the dark horizon for any sign of civilization. "But we need to be careful. We can't afford to make any mistakes."The small town came into view as they crested a hill, its lights twinkling like stars in the distance. It was the kind of place that would be easy to overlook, just another dot on the map, but that was precisely why it might be the safest option.They drove into town, the streets deserted at this late hour. Miel slowed the car, her eyes flicking from side to side, searching for anything out of the ordinary. But the town was eerily quiet, the only movement coming from a stray cat darting across the road.Nina directed them to a small motel on the outskirts of town, its neon sign flickering in the darkness. Miel pulled into the parking lot, shutting off the engine with a sigh of relief. The tension that had been building in her chest eased slightly, but it didn't disappear entirely."I'll go in and get us a room," Nina said, already unbuckling her seatbelt. "You two stay here with the dog."Miel nodded, watching as Nina disappeared into the motel office. She turned to Jasmine, who was still staring out the window. "How are you holding up?"Jasmine shrugged, a humorless smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I've been better. But we'll get through this, right? We always do.""Yeah," Miel replied softly, though she wasn't entirely sure if she believed it. They had been through so much already, but the obstacles seemed to keep piling up, each one more insurmountable than the last.Nina returned a few minutes later, a key in hand. "Room 12," she said, holding it out to Miel. "I got us a room with two beds. It's nothing fancy, but it'll do for the night."Miel took the key, stepping out of the car and stretching her stiff limbs. Maxwell followed, his tail wagging slightly as he sniffed the air, curious about this new place.The room was as basic as they had expected—a small, musty space with two twin beds, a tiny bathroom, and a TV that looked like it hadn't worked in years. But it was a place to sleep, and that was all that mattered.Jasmine immediately collapsed onto one of the beds, burying her face in the pillow. Miel could see the exhaustion etched into every line of her body, and it mirrored her own."I'm going to take a shower," Miel said, more to fill the silence than anything else. She grabbed a towel from the bathroom and disappeared inside, letting the hot water wash away the grime and stress of the day.When she emerged, Jasmine was already asleep, her breathing slow and even. Miel felt a pang of guilt, knowing that her partner was worn out not just physically but emotionally. They had been through so much together, and she couldn't help but wonder if there was a breaking point they hadn't yet reached.Nina was sitting on the edge of the other bed, flipping through an old magazine she had found on the nightstand. She looked up as Miel walked over, her expression guarded."We need to talk," Nina said, her voice low.Miel raised an eyebrow, sitting down on the bed across from her. "About what?""About what happens next," Nina replied, her tone serious. "We can't keep running like this. Sooner or later, the law will catch up with us. We need a plan—a real plan.""We've been making it up as we go," Miel admitted, her shoulders slumping. "But you're right. We can't keep doing that."Nina nodded, closing the magazine and setting it aside. "I've been thinking. There's a place—a safe house, off the grid, where we can lay low for a while. It's not much, but it's secure. We could regroup there, figure out our next steps."Miel studied Nina's face, searching for any hint of deception. But all she saw was determination. "And you're just offering this out of the goodness of your heart?"Nina's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Let's just say it's in my best interest too. You're not the only ones who need to disappear for a while."Miel considered this, weighing her options. It was a risk, trusting Nina, but it was also the best option they had at the moment. "Okay," she said finally. "We'll go to the safe house. But if you try anything—""I won't," Nina interrupted, her voice firm. "I'm on your side, Miel."Miel nodded slowly, still not entirely convinced but willing to take the chance. "We'll leave in the morning. For now, let's get some rest."Nina agreed, and the two women settled into their respective beds. But sleep didn't come easily for Miel. She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts of what the future might hold.Maxwell curled up beside her, his warm presence a small comfort in the darkness. Miel reached out to stroke his fur, her heart aching with the uncertainty of it all.Tomorrow, they would set out again, leaving this town behind just like all the others. But for now, they had a moment of peace, however fleeting it might be.As Miel finally drifted off to sleep, her last thoughts were of Jasmine, and the life they had once dreamed of—a life that seemed further away with each passing day.