The sun had just begun to rise, painting the horizon in muted shades of pink and orange, as Miel steered the truck off the main road and into the dense woods that Nina had directed her toward. The dirt path beneath the tires was uneven, every bump jolting the truck, but it was hidden—out of sight, away from the prying eyes that were no doubt searching for them.
Jasmine sat beside her, silent but alert, her fingers absently stroking Maxwell's soft fur. Miel could feel the weight of her gaze, the tension between them, unspoken yet ever-present. They had come so far together, but the uncertainty of their future lingered like a storm cloud, dark and ominous."We're almost there," Nina said from the backseat, her voice cutting through the thick silence. She had been quiet for most of the drive, her attention focused on the map and the roads behind them. Now, though, there was a note of finality in her tone, as if this place—wherever it was—was their last hope.Miel nodded but didn't speak. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly as the path narrowed, the trees pressing in closer. She could feel the weight of exhaustion pulling at her, the long hours of driving, the constant anxiety, but she pushed it aside. They had to stay focused. They had to keep moving.The truck finally rolled to a stop in front of an old, weather-beaten barn nestled deep in the woods. It looked abandoned, forgotten by time, the wood gray and splintering in places. But it was hidden, isolated, and that made it perfect."This is it," Nina said, stepping out of the truck and slinging her bag over her shoulder. "It's not much, but it'll do."Miel climbed out of the driver's seat, stretching her stiff limbs as she looked around. The air smelled fresh, untouched by the city or the chase that followed them. Maxwell hopped out, sniffing the ground with interest, his tail wagging as he explored their new surroundings.Jasmine joined Miel by the truck, her eyes scanning the barn and the surrounding woods. "Are we safe here?" she asked, her voice quiet but laced with concern.Nina shrugged. "For now. No one knows about this place. We can rest, regroup, and figure out our next steps." She glanced at Miel and Jasmine, her expression unreadable. "But we can't stay long. Eventually, someone's going to catch on."The reminder of their fragile situation settled over them like a weight. Miel exhaled slowly, nodding. "Let's get inside."The barn's interior was as run-down as its exterior, with beams of sunlight streaming through cracks in the walls. Old tools and farming equipment were scattered around, long forgotten. There was a small loft overhead, reachable by a rickety wooden ladder, and a few musty bales of hay piled in the corner. It wasn't much, but it was shelter."We'll set up camp here," Nina said, already pulling out supplies from the truck. "It's not luxurious, but it'll keep us hidden until we figure out our next move."Jasmine nodded, her face drawn with exhaustion. She dropped her bag on the ground, sinking onto one of the bales of hay. "At least we can rest," she murmured, rubbing her temples.Miel sat beside her, leaning into her warmth for a moment. "We've been through worse," she whispered, offering a small, tired smile.Jasmine returned it, though faintly. "Yeah, but how much more can we take?"Miel didn't have an answer. She didn't know how long they could keep running, or how much more weight their relationship could bear. Every day felt like a balancing act, one wrong move and everything could come crashing down. But for now, all they had was this moment of quiet, and Miel was determined to hold onto it.---The day passed slowly, the hours marked by the occasional rustle of leaves outside or the creak of the old barn shifting in the wind. Miel and Jasmine busied themselves with setting up their makeshift camp inside, clearing space and organizing the supplies Nina had brought with her. Maxwell, ever the faithful companion, kept watch by the door, his ears perking up at every unfamiliar sound.As evening approached, Nina gathered them around a small lantern she had lit in the center of the barn. The glow of the flame cast shadows on their faces, making the atmosphere feel both intimate and tense."We need a plan," Nina said, her voice low but firm. "This place is safe for now, but we're sitting ducks if we don't act soon."Miel looked at her, then at Jasmine, who sat quietly beside her, hands folded in her lap. She knew Nina was right. They couldn't stay hidden forever. Sooner or later, they would have to make their next move."We can't keep running without a real exit strategy," Miel said, her tone thoughtful. "If your contact can get us out of the country, how do we make that happen?"Nina leaned back, crossing her arms. "We'll need fake passports, new identities—everything we've been doing, but more permanent. My contact can help with that. He's not far from here, but getting to him without raising suspicion will be tricky."Jasmine frowned. "Tricky how?"Nina sighed. "We can't just stroll into town. There's likely still heat on you two, and the authorities aren't going to give up easily. If we draw any attention, it's game over."Miel exhaled sharply, her mind working through the logistics. "What about the money? We're going to need a lot of it to pull this off."Nina smirked slightly. "Luckily, we've got plenty of that."Jasmine shook her head, leaning forward. "Money can't fix everything. What if something goes wrong?"Miel reached out, placing a hand on Jasmine's arm, trying to calm the rising tension. "We've made it this far. We'll figure it out."Nina watched them for a moment, her expression hard to read. "I've got the details worked out. We'll leave first thing in the morning. But you need to be ready. Once we start this, there's no turning back."Jasmine looked to Miel, her eyes searching for reassurance. Miel squeezed her hand gently. "We'll be ready."---That night, Miel lay awake on the cold floor of the barn, listening to the soft breathing of Jasmine beside her and the occasional snore from Maxwell. The silence of the woods was both calming and unsettling, the quiet too perfect, as if it was waiting to be broken.Miel's thoughts were heavy, swirling with doubts and fears. Could they really pull this off? Could they finally escape this endless cycle of running, hiding, and surviving? The stakes had never been higher, and the weight of their decisions pressed down on her chest.Jasmine stirred beside her, her hand reaching for Miel in the darkness. "You're not sleeping," Jasmine whispered, her voice barely audible.Miel turned toward her, their faces inches apart in the dim light. "Neither are you."Jasmine's lips curved into a faint smile. "I'm scared, Miel. I don't want to lose you."Miel's heart ached at the vulnerability in Jasmine's voice. She reached up, brushing a strand of hair from Jasmine's face. "You won't," she whispered fiercely. "We're going to get through this. Together."Jasmine nodded, her eyes closing as she leaned into Miel's touch. "Promise?""I promise," Miel whispered back, though the doubt gnawed at her. She wasn't sure if it was a promise she could keep, but for now, in the quiet of the barn, it was all they had.As they lay there in the dark, their fingers entwined, Miel couldn't help but feel that the end was coming—whether it was an end to their running, or something more final, she didn't know. But whatever it was, they would face it together.