The air inside the cabin felt thick, heavy with the scent of damp wood and dust. As they stepped through the threshold, Miel couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something dangerous, something they couldn't yet see. The small space was dimly lit, only the faint glow of twilight filtering through the cracks between the boarded-up windows. Nina moved through the cabin with a sense of purpose, flicking on a battery-powered lantern that cast long shadows on the walls.
"Stay alert," Nina murmured, her voice low as if the silence of the woods outside might be listening. She checked the doors, the windows, every possible point of entry, making sure everything was secure.
Jasmine shivered beside Miel, not from the cold but from the eerie atmosphere that seemed to seep into her bones. "I hate this place," she whispered, her voice tight. "It feels like a ghost could show up any second."
Miel didn't disagree. Her eyes darted to every corner, every shadow, waiting for something—anything—to move. She tried to push down the fear gnawing at the edges of her mind. This was supposed to be safe, but safety had become a fleeting, almost mythical concept in their lives. It was never permanent, always an illusion that shattered the moment they let their guard down.
Maxwell sniffed around the small room, his ears twitching at every creak the old cabin made. Miel kept him close, feeling a strange comfort in his presence, even if he couldn't protect them from what was coming. His wide eyes reflected the faint light, as if he, too, was on edge.
Nina finished her sweep of the cabin and stood in the center, hands on her hips. "We'll be okay for a few days here," she said, though her tone lacked the usual confidence. "Long enough to figure out our next move."
Miel raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "How do you know we haven't been followed? This place feels too exposed."
"We've been careful," Nina replied, though her eyes flickered with doubt. "And there's no way anyone knows about this cabin. I've used it before. It's off the grid."
Jasmine crossed her arms, her jaw clenched in frustration. "We're tired of just running, Nina. We need more than a temporary hideout. What's the real plan?"
Nina met her gaze with a sharpness that hadn't been there before. "You think I don't know that? We're in this together, but we've got to stay alive first. I'm working on it. We'll regroup here, and I'll get us a way out of the state—permanently."
Miel stepped forward, tension humming between them. "We've heard that before, and it never seems to pan out. How long do we keep doing this? Running and hoping the next place is safer than the last?"
Nina's jaw tightened, her voice dropping to a rough whisper. "You're alive, aren't you? Trust me, Miel. I know it feels like the walls are closing in, but I've got this. Let me do what I'm good at."
Silence filled the room as Miel stared at Nina, weighing her words. She wanted to trust her, needed to believe they were still a step ahead of the inevitable. But something inside her tugged at her instincts, warning her that things were slipping out of control.
Jasmine broke the standoff, her voice softer now. "Miel, we need a break. Just for tonight. We can figure it all out in the morning." She rested a hand on Miel's arm, her touch grounding her in the moment.
Miel exhaled slowly, nodding. "Fine. We'll rest for now. But Nina, I want a real plan by tomorrow. No more guesswork."
Nina gave a curt nod, the tension still thick between them. "You'll get it."
---
Night fell quickly, wrapping the cabin in a blanket of darkness. The wind howled softly outside, making the wooden beams groan under the weight of the elements. Miel and Jasmine sat by the small fireplace, its flames casting a flickering orange glow across their faces. Maxwell lay curled at their feet, his breathing slow and steady, oblivious to the anxiety swirling around them.
Jasmine leaned her head on Miel's shoulder, seeking the comfort they hadn't allowed themselves since they'd arrived. "Do you ever think about stopping for good?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Miel stared into the fire, the question hanging heavy between them. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... not just finding another safehouse or planning another escape. I mean really stopping. No more running. No more hiding. Just... living." Jasmine's words trembled with hope, though Miel could hear the doubt underneath.
Miel swallowed hard, unsure how to answer. The thought of stopping, of just living, was so far removed from their current reality it almost seemed like a dream. And dreams, in their world, were dangerous. They led to mistakes, to vulnerability.
"I don't know if we can," Miel finally said, her voice low. "Not after everything we've done."
Jasmine lifted her head, searching Miel's face for something—an answer, a promise, anything that would make this life bearable again. "But what if we tried? What if we found some place so remote, so hidden, that no one could ever find us?"
Miel sighed, the weight of the conversation pressing down on her. "I want to believe that. I really do. But it feels like we've crossed too many lines to go back now."
Jasmine's face softened with a sadness that Miel had seen before, a sadness that had been creeping into their lives more and more with each passing day. "I'm scared, Miel. Not just of getting caught. I'm scared of what all this is doing to us. To you. To me."
Miel pulled her closer, wrapping her arms around Jasmine as if she could shield her from the world. "I'm scared too," she whispered. "But I'm not going to let anything happen to you. We'll get through this."
Jasmine closed her eyes, letting herself fall into the comfort of Miel's embrace, even if it felt fleeting. They stayed like that for a long time, wrapped in each other's arms, their love the only thing keeping them from unraveling completely.
---
Later that night, Miel found herself unable to sleep. The cabin was quiet, too quiet, and every little noise made her heart race. She sat up, her eyes scanning the darkness, her body tense with anticipation. Something felt off. She couldn't explain it, but the feeling was there, gnawing at the back of her mind.
Suddenly, a faint creak sounded from outside, followed by the soft crunch of footsteps on the gravel path. Miel froze, her breath catching in her throat. She quickly grabbed the gun that had been sitting by her side and quietly nudged Jasmine awake.
"Someone's outside," Miel whispered, her voice barely audible. Jasmine's eyes shot open, her body going rigid as she processed Miel's words.
Maxwell lifted his head, his ears twitching as he sensed the change in the air.
They stayed perfectly still, listening. The footsteps stopped, and for a moment, there was only silence. But then came the unmistakable sound of a soft knock at the door.