The night air was cold and refreshing as Aveline and Gabriel ran through the very thick forest, their breaths coming in and out in a rugged way. Behind them, the elders' chamber was a dark silhouette against the moonlit sky, its secrets momentarily left behind. But the weight of what they had discovered remained with them like shadows they couldn't escape from.
They didn't stop running until they reached an empty clearing, where an old abandoned cottage was hidden among the trees. Gabriel pushed open the dusty old door, assisting Aveline inside before ensuring the door was properly closed behind them.
"We're safe for now," he said, though the tension in his voice was still evident and he was still having doubts within him.
Aveline didn't respond. She leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, her eyes checking around the cottage. The discovery of the nursery, the child's drawings, the elders' threats—it was all too much to handle for her.
