The cabin was bathed in the pale glow of the moon, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly across the floor. The air inside was thick with tension, pressing down on Miel, Jasmine, and Nina as they returned from the diner, the weight of their encounter with Simon still fresh in their minds. His presence had rattled them all, a reminder that their fragile sense of safety was slipping through their fingers.
Miel stood by the window, her arms crossed as she peered into the darkness. Every rustle of the trees outside made her muscles tense. "We can't stay here," she muttered, her voice tight with urgency. "Simon's too close. It's only a matter of time before he tracks us down."
Jasmine sat at the edge of the table, absentmindedly twisting a strand of her hair between her fingers. "We should've known this place wouldn't stay safe for long," she said, glancing at Nina, who was hunched over a map, marking possible escape routes. "But where do we go from here?"
Nina lifted her head, her expression somber. "We've got options, but none of them are great. We could try heading further north—there are some abandoned properties up there. It might give us more time. Or, we could reach out to Derek again, see if he can arrange something to throw Simon off our trail."
Miel shook her head. "We can't rely on Derek for everything. Simon's dangerous, and if he thinks Derek's helping us, it could put him in danger too. No, we need to think of something else—something unexpected."
A soft whimper came from the corner of the room, where Maxwell lay curled up in his makeshift bed. The little dog's eyes flicked toward Miel, sensing the unease in the room. Miel's heart ached. Maxwell had been with them through every twist and turn, and the thought of dragging him further into danger made her stomach churn.
Jasmine stood up and moved toward Maxwell, kneeling beside him to stroke his soft fur. "Maxwell deserves better than this," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "We all do."
Nina stood and joined them at the window, folding the map. "What about the diversion we talked about earlier? We could make it seem like we're going to meet someone else—draw Simon's attention away long enough to make a clean getaway."
"That could work," Miel said, considering the plan. "But we'd need to act fast. Every minute we spend here is a risk. Let's set it up."
The three of them sprang into action, their movements quick and focused. Jasmine began crafting the fake message that would lead Simon down a false path, while Nina updated their escape route, pinpointing the most isolated road north. Miel gathered what few supplies they had left, her mind racing with the possibilities and the dangers that lay ahead.
"Simon's too smart for this to fool him forever," Jasmine said as she typed furiously on her burner phone. "But it should buy us a few days, at least."
"That's all we need," Miel replied, her voice sharper than intended. "We just need a head start."
Maxwell let out another soft whimper, and this time, Miel couldn't ignore it. She knelt beside him, running a hand through his fur. "We're almost out of this, buddy," she whispered. "I promise."
For a moment, Miel allowed herself to breathe, feeling the warmth of Maxwell's body against her hand. But the reprieve was short-lived. Nina's sharp intake of breath made her turn.
"We've got a problem," Nina said, her voice tight with fear. She held up her phone, showing a series of messages. "Simon just put out a bounty on us. Whoever brings us in, dead or alive, gets enough cash to retire."
Jasmine's eyes widened in disbelief. "He's mobilizing everyone," she whispered. "We can't stay anywhere now. It's not just him after us anymore—anyone looking for a quick payday is going to be on our trail," Jasmine finished, her voice trembling slightly.
Miel's blood ran cold. This wasn't just about outsmarting Simon now; they were targets, and every person they encountered from here on out could be a potential enemy. "We need to move. Now."
Nina shoved the map into her bag. "We can take the back roads north. It'll slow us down, but it'll keep us out of sight."
Miel nodded, already pulling on her jacket. "We'll take what we can carry. No stops, no distractions." She glanced at Maxwell, who wagged his tail weakly, unaware of the danger swirling around them. "He can ride with me."
Jasmine walked over and placed a hand on Miel's shoulder, her eyes softening despite the tension. "We'll be okay," she whispered. "We just have to stay ahead of them."
Miel nodded, though her stomach twisted with doubt. Every instinct told her this was only the beginning of something far worse. Still, they couldn't waste time worrying. They had to act, and fast.
The cabin was eerily silent as they grabbed their things, packing only the essentials. Miel picked up Maxwell, cradling the dog in her arms as they headed for the door. Nina checked her phone again, her brow furrowing.
"The messages are spreading fast," Nina muttered. "By morning, every bounty hunter in the region will know our faces."
"Then we can't be here by morning," Miel said, her voice steely.
Jasmine opened the door, and the crisp night air hit them like a slap. The dark forest stretched out before them, silent and foreboding. Miel took a deep breath, trying to steady the nerves clawing at her chest. She tightened her grip on Maxwell, who shifted in her arms, letting out a small whine.
"You'll be okay," she whispered to the dog, though she wasn't sure if she believed it herself.
They moved quickly, slipping through the shadows, their footfalls barely making a sound on the damp ground. Miel kept glancing over her shoulder, half-expecting to see headlights coming down the road or hear the telltale crunch of boots in pursuit. But the only sound was the distant rustle of leaves in the wind.
After what felt like an eternity, they reached the old truck parked behind a line of thick trees. Nina slid into the driver's seat, firing up the engine as Miel and Jasmine climbed into the back. Miel set Maxwell down carefully, and he curled up beside her, his head resting on her lap.
"We stick to the plan," Nina said, her voice firm as the truck rumbled to life. "Back roads, no stops. We'll be in the clear by dawn if we push through."
Miel nodded, though the gnawing pit in her stomach told her it wouldn't be that simple. There was no "clear" in this life—not anymore. Simon wouldn't stop, and now there was a whole world of people with a reason to hunt them down.
As the truck pulled onto the dirt road, Miel rested her hand on Jasmine's. Their fingers intertwined, and for a brief moment, the weight of everything lifted, just a little.
"Whatever happens," Jasmine whispered, "we're in this together."
Miel squeezed her hand. "Always."
But as the truck rumbled deeper into the night, Miel couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time—and fast. Maxwell shifted beside her, letting out a soft, tired sigh. She looked down at him, her heart aching with a fear she couldn't quite name.
In the distance, headlights pierced the darkness, far off but moving closer.
"We've got company," Nina said, her voice tense. "Buckle up."