Hours passed in eerie silence. The forest around them seemed to stretch on endlessly, and yet Élodie could feel every minute dragging, each one heavier than the last. They had stopped for a brief rest when Luc and Sophie had returned, their faces drawn with the strain of the pursuit.
"We've lost them for now," Luc said, his voice low. "But we won't have much time before they regroup and start searching again."
Sophie crouched beside Vincent, her hands moving quickly as she checked his fever. "He's not getting better. If we don't find a doctor soon, we're going to lose him."
Élodie's heart sank at the words. She had feared this, feared that they would be too late, but hearing it aloud made it all the more real.
"We can't give up on him," Élodie whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "We can't."
Luc gave her a long look before nodding. "We won't. But we need to move fast. We need to get out of this area before they find us again."
Sophie stood up, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "There's a village to the east, a few miles away. It's not far, but it's risky. If we're caught, there's no telling what'll happen."
"Then we move at night," Luc said firmly. "We wait until the cover of darkness, then make our way to the village. It's our best shot."
Élodie didn't need to be told twice. She nodded, her resolve hardening. They couldn't afford to waste any more time. They had to get Vincent the help he needed, or they would lose him. And they would lose everything.
They huddled together for a brief moment, their faces lit by the faint glow of a small campfire that Sophie had managed to start, before the fire was extinguished and they set out once again, moving as quietly as possible through the trees.
The journey was slow, the weight of Vincent's body on Élodie's shoulders like an anchor, but she didn't stop. She couldn't.
By the time the sun began to rise, they were still miles from the village, but they had made it through the worst of the forest. And for the first time in what felt like forever, Élodie allowed herself a breath, a flicker of hope.
They were still alive. They were still fighting.
And that was enough. For now.
4o mini