The car ride was silent, the only sound the steady hum of the engine and the rhythmic tapping of rain against the windows. Evelyn sat in the backseat, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she stared out at the passing city lights. Victor was beside her, his head resting against the window, his breathing slow and steady. He had fallen asleep almost as soon as they had gotten in the car, the exhaustion of everything he had been through finally catching up to him.
Lucas drove with a quiet intensity, his sharp green eyes scanning the road ahead. He hadn't said much since they had left the safe house, his expression grim and unreadable. Evelyn knew he was worried—about Victor, about the Kanes, about what came next. But he didn't need to say it. She could feel it in the tension that filled the car.
They drove for what felt like hours, the city gradually giving way to the dark, winding roads of the countryside. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, the clouds parting just enough to reveal the faint glow of the moon. Evelyn's mind raced as she watched the landscape pass by, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear, guilt, and determination.
Finally, Lucas turned onto a narrow dirt road, the car bumping along the uneven surface. The trees closed in around them, their branches forming a canopy overhead. Evelyn's chest tightened as they drove deeper into the woods, the sense of isolation growing with each passing mile.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice low.
Lucas glanced at her in the rearview mirror, his expression softening. "Somewhere safe," he said simply.
Evelyn nodded, though the knot in her stomach didn't loosen. She trusted Lucas—she had to—but the thought of being so far from the city, so far from the Kanes, made her uneasy. It felt like they were running, and she hated the idea of giving Damian and his family the satisfaction of driving her into hiding.
The car came to a stop in front of a small, rustic cabin nestled in the woods. The building was old but well-maintained, its wooden walls weathered but sturdy. A faint light glowed from one of the windows, casting a warm, inviting glow into the night.
Lucas turned off the engine and stepped out of the car, his movements slow and deliberate. Evelyn followed, helping Victor out of the backseat. He stirred slightly, his eyes fluttering open as he leaned heavily on her.
"Where are we?" he mumbled, his voice groggy.
"Somewhere safe," Evelyn repeated, her voice soft but firm. "Come on. Let's get you inside."
They made their way to the cabin, the wooden porch creaking under their weight. Lucas unlocked the door and stepped inside, flipping on the lights to reveal a cozy, if somewhat sparse, interior. The main room was dominated by a large stone fireplace, the furniture old but comfortable. A small kitchenette sat in one corner, and a narrow hallway led to what Evelyn assumed were the bedrooms.
"Make yourselves at home," Lucas said, his voice low. "I'll get the fire going."
Evelyn helped Victor to the couch, his movements slow and unsteady. He sank into the cushions with a sigh, his eyes closing as he leaned his head back. Evelyn's chest tightened as she watched him, the guilt and fear she had been holding back threatening to overwhelm her.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "This is all my fault."
Victor opened his eyes, his gaze meeting hers. "Don't," he said, his voice firm. "This isn't your fault, Evie. None of this is your fault."
Evelyn shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. "If I had been smarter, if I had been more careful—"
"Stop," Victor interrupted, his voice sharp. "You saved me, Evie. You risked everything to get me out of there. That's what matters."
Evelyn's chest tightened, and she nodded, though the guilt still gnawed at her. She sat down beside him, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The sound of Lucas building a fire filled the room, the crackling of the wood and the warmth of the flames slowly easing the tension in the air.
After a while, Lucas joined them, his expression grim. "We need to talk," he said, his voice low. "About what comes next."
Evelyn nodded, her mind racing. "What do we do?"
Lucas hesitated, his jaw tightening. "We lay low for a while. Let things cool off. But we can't stay here forever. The Kanes are going to keep looking for us, and we need to be ready."
Evelyn's chest tightened, and she glanced at Victor, her heart aching. "We can't just hide," she said, her voice steady. "We have to fight back."
Lucas studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "I know. But we need a plan. And we need to be smart about it."
Evelyn met his gaze, her eyes filled with determination. "Then let's make a plan."
They spent the next few hours talking, their voices low and urgent as they mapped out their next steps. Lucas had contacts—people who could help them gather information, people who could help them fight. But it was going to take time, and it was going to be dangerous.
As the night wore on, Victor drifted off to sleep again, his breathing slow and steady. Evelyn watched him for a moment, her chest tightening. She had gotten him back, but the fight was far from over. The Kanes were still out there, and they weren't going to stop until they found her.
She stood and moved to the window, staring out at the dark woods beyond. The moon hung low in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows across the ground. Evelyn's mind raced as she thought about Damian, about the look in his eyes as he had let them go. There was something there—something she couldn't quite place. But she didn't have time to dwell on it. Not now.
The game had changed, and the stakes were higher than ever.