The door slammed open with a deafening crash, causing Amelia's heart to race. In the dim light of the cabin, shadowy figures loomed in the doorway, blocking their only escape. The cold air that followed them inside was like an omen, thick with the weight of danger and finality.
Amelia's pulse quickened. She had no idea who these people were, but the way they moved, the chilling silence they carried with them, made it clear they were no ordinary enemies. She stood, her body tense, her thoughts racing.
Lucas was already by her side, his stance protective as he sized up the newcomers. His eyes narrowed, the ever-present wariness in his expression now sharpened by the realization that they were no longer in control.
"Robert, what's going on?" Amelia demanded, her voice edged with fear and anger. "Who are they?"
Robert, his face pale, looked from Amelia to the men in the doorway, then back again. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came. It was as if he couldn't bring himself to speak the truth. He had brought them here for protection, yet now they were trapped in this cabin, surrounded by an unknown enemy.
"Stay behind me," Lucas muttered, his eyes never leaving the figures in the doorway.
One of the shadowy men stepped forward, his voice low but cold, like ice scraping against stone. "You've run long enough, Robert. It's time to end this."
Robert's face tightened, and he clenched his fists at his sides. "I don't want this anymore," he said quietly, as if pleading with the men to understand. "I've done enough damage."
The man who had spoken earlier chuckled, but it was a hollow, empty sound. "It's too late for that, Robert. You should have known better than to try to escape."
Amelia felt the fear swirling inside her, but she refused to let it consume her. She glanced around the cabin, looking for something, anything, they could use to defend themselves. The few tools and rusty equipment lying around the room wouldn't be much help against these trained enemies. The only advantage they had was the element of surprise — but that wouldn't last long.
"Who are you?" Lucas demanded, his voice steady despite the rising tension. "What do you want?"
The man at the front smirked, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "We don't have time for questions. We came to end this. All of it."
Another figure, this one taller and broader than the others, stepped into the light. He was the one who had been standing at the back of the group, and the look in his eyes made Amelia's stomach churn. His presence was intimidating, and it was clear that he was the leader of the group.
"Robert," the leader said, his voice deep and measured, "you've been a thorn in our side for far too long. It's time to put an end to this little game."
Amelia's mind raced, piecing together the fragments of information she had gathered so far. These men were connected to the dangerous organization Robert had mentioned earlier, and now, it seemed, they were determined to wipe out anyone who stood in their way.
Robert stepped forward, his hands trembling. "I never wanted any of this," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought I was doing the right thing, but I was wrong. Please, just leave them alone."
The leader's lips curled into a cruel smile. "You thought you could run away, Robert. You thought you could hide. But there's no escaping us."
Amelia felt the weight of the situation crash down on her. This wasn't just about her family anymore. It was about something much bigger — something that threatened to consume them all.
"Amelia, Lucas," Robert said, his voice suddenly low and serious, "there's no way out of this. They won't stop until they get what they want."
"You brought us here, Robert," Lucas replied coldly. "You're the one who led them straight to us."
Robert winced at the harshness of Lucas's words, but he didn't argue. He knew it was true. He had led them here, thinking they would be safe, but now it seemed they were deeper in danger than ever.
Amelia felt a surge of determination rise up inside her. She wouldn't let this be the end. Not now. Not when they were so close to the truth.
"We won't go down without a fight," Amelia said, her voice firm, the fear inside her replaced by resolve.
The leader raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by her words. "A fight? You think you can stop us? You don't even know who we are."
Lucas stepped forward, ready to face whatever came next. "We'll fight. We'll do whatever it takes to protect each other. You're not taking anyone from us."
The man in the doorway let out a sharp laugh. "You're wasting your time. You should have stayed hidden, Robert. Now it's too late."
But just as the man raised his hand, signaling his team to move forward, a loud noise echoed from outside the cabin, followed by the sound of a car screeching to a halt. The group froze, their attention shifting toward the source of the sound.
The leader narrowed his eyes, then motioned to his men to stay alert. "Get ready," he said quietly.
Robert glanced at Amelia and Lucas, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion. "It's not supposed to happen like this. We have to go now."
Before Amelia could respond, the door to the cabin suddenly burst open with another forceful slam. A figure stepped into the room, and Amelia's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the person standing in the doorway.
It was someone she never thought she would see again someone who had been thought lost for good.
"Stop right there," the newcomer said, his voice commanding and full of authority.
The figure stepped fully into the room, revealing a familiar face. It was her brother, Daniel, but his eyes were cold and calculating, and there was something in his hand that made Amelia's blood run cold a gun.