The faint glow of dawn crept over the horizon, painting the cave entrance in shades of muted gold and gray. Inside, the fire had burned down to glowing embers, casting flickering shadows on the damp stone walls. Serena sat cross-legged near the boy, Luca, watching his small chest rise and fall as he slept.
Aiden was perched by the cave entrance, his silhouette outlined against the soft light. His eyes scanned the treeline for any movement, his hand resting on the grip of his pistol.
"You didn't sleep," Serena said softly as she approached him.
Aiden shook his head. "Couldn't. Every time I closed my eyes, I kept hearing him—the guy from the cabin. His voice. That laugh."
Serena leaned against the cave wall beside him, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "We can't keep running aimlessly. Sooner or later, we're going to get cornered."
Aiden exhaled sharply. "We need a plan, but first… we need to know what we're up against. Luca said they come at night. Masks, organized, taking people… sounds like a militia or some kind of group."
Serena hesitated. "Do you think… do you think they're the same people who chased us out of the city?"
Aiden glanced at her, his expression grim. "It's too much of a coincidence not to be. Whatever this is, it's bigger than just us."
A soft rustling sound pulled their attention back inside the cave. Luca was awake, his wide eyes darting between the two of them.
"Are we leaving?" he asked in a small voice.
Serena approached him and crouched down to his level. "Yes, Luca. We have to move before they come back."
The boy nodded, pulling a worn-out backpack close to his chest. Aiden noticed the way Luca's small fingers clutched the straps—it was the grip of someone who had already lost too much.
As they exited the cave, the trio kept low, moving cautiously through the damp underbrush. The forest around them was eerily quiet, the only sound being the faint dripping of water from soaked leaves.
After about an hour of walking, Serena spotted an abandoned ranger station up ahead, partially hidden by overgrown vines and moss.
"There," she said, pointing. "We might find supplies. Maybe even a map."
Aiden led the way, his gun raised as they approached the station. The wooden steps creaked under their weight, and the air smelled of mildew and decay. Inside, the place was a mess—papers scattered across the floor, broken furniture, and a smashed radio on the desk.
"Looks like someone's been here," Aiden muttered.
Serena sifted through the papers, her brow furrowed. "Evacuation orders… warnings about unidentified armed groups… This was recent."
Luca tugged on Aiden's sleeve, pointing toward a cabinet in the corner. "There might be something in there."
Aiden approached the cabinet cautiously and pried it open with the barrel of his gun. Inside were a few canned goods, a flashlight, and—most importantly—a folded map.
"Jackpot," Aiden said, spreading the map across the dusty desk.
Serena leaned over his shoulder. "There's a settlement marked here. About fifteen miles southeast. Looks like a safe zone."
Luca's eyes lit up. "My sister… she talked about a safe place before she was taken. Maybe that's it!"
Aiden nodded, his expression serious. "Then that's where we're heading. But fifteen miles in this terrain… it's not going to be easy."
Suddenly, Luca froze, his eyes wide with fear. "Shh… someone's outside."
The trio fell silent. A faint sound drifted through the broken window—heavy boots on wet leaves. Aiden motioned for them to stay low, his grip tightening on his pistol.
Through the cracks in the wooden walls, Serena could make out shapes moving in the foggy forest. Four… no, five figures, all carrying rifles and wearing dark clothing. Masks covered their faces, obscuring their features entirely.
"They found us," Aiden whispered.
Serena's heart pounded in her chest as she gripped Luca's hand. Aiden gestured toward the back door, and they moved as quietly as they could.
But then—
CRASH!
The front door was kicked open, and a masked figure stormed inside. Aiden fired instantly, dropping the intruder with a single shot.
"Go! Move!" he barked.
Serena pulled Luca through the back exit as chaos erupted behind them. Gunshots cracked through the morning air, and splinters of wood exploded around them as bullets tore through the walls.
They sprinted down a narrow trail, mud splashing underfoot. Serena glanced back to see Aiden close behind, his face streaked with sweat and grime.
"Keep running!" he yelled.
But Luca stumbled, falling to the ground with a sharp cry. Serena skidded to a stop, pulling him up. Behind them, the masked men were closing in, their shouts echoing through the trees.
Aiden fired another shot, hitting one of the pursuers. But more were coming, their dark forms slicing through the mist like shadows.
Just ahead, Serena spotted a narrow crevice between two boulders.
"In here!" she shouted.
They squeezed through the narrow gap, their breath coming in ragged gasps. The pursuers stopped short of the crevice, shouting and firing blindly into the rocks.
The trio pressed themselves against the cold stone, holding their breath as the masked men paced just outside. After what felt like hours, the footsteps faded into the distance.
Serena let out a shaky breath, clutching Luca tightly. Aiden leaned against the stone, his face pale and exhausted.
"We can't keep doing this," Serena said, her voice breaking slightly.
Aiden nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "We have to reach that safe zone. It's our only chance."
Luca looked up at them, his small face streaked with tears and mud. "Do you think… do you think my sister's there?"
Serena hesitated, then gave a firm nod. "We'll find her, Luca. I promise."
The three of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of everything pressing down on them. Outside, the world remained still, but the danger wasn't gone—it was just waiting for them to move again.
The road ahead was long, and survival was far from guaranteed. But for now, they had each other.
And sometimes, that was enough.
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End of Chapter 12