Chapter 23

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the road as Marcus’ car led the way. We followed closely behind in silence, each of us deep in thought, wrestling with the gravity of the decision we’d made. The air inside our car was thick with tension.

“I still don’t trust him,” Kael muttered from the passenger seat, his eyes fixed on the taillights ahead. “Something feels wrong about this.”

Caleb, who was driving, clenched his jaw, his knuckles white as they gripped the steering wheel. “I don’t trust him either. But we didn’t have another choice. We’re running out of time.”

In the back seat, I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze darting between them. “We’ll keep our guard up. But for now, we need to stay close to him. He knows more than he’s letting on.”

The road ahead stretched into darkness, twisting through dense woods that seemed to swallow the last remnants of daylight. The longer we drove, the more isolated we became. There were no other cars, no signs of civilization, only the endless trees looming over us like silent sentinels.

After what felt like hours, Marcus’ car finally slowed and turned onto a narrow dirt path, barely visible from the main road. Caleb hesitated for a moment before following him down the path, which snaked through the forest, its overgrown branches scraping against the sides of the car.

“This place is giving me the creeps,” Kael muttered, his hand instinctively reaching for the knife he kept strapped to his leg. “Are we sure this is a good idea?”

“No,” I admitted quietly, glancing out the window at the dark, impenetrable forest. “But we’re in it now. We can’t turn back.”

As we rounded a bend, a small cabin came into view, barely visible in the dim light. It was old and weathered, hidden deep in the woods like a forgotten relic. Marcus pulled his car to a stop in front of it, and Caleb parked behind him.

“Stay sharp,” Caleb warned as he killed the engine. “We don’t know what’s waiting for us here.”

We stepped out of the car, the cold night air biting at our skin. The cabin loomed ahead, its windows dark, offering no hint of what was inside. Marcus was already out of his car, leaning against the door with a casual confidence that unnerved me.

“Welcome to your new home,” he said, gesturing to the cabin with a sweep of his hand. “It’s not much, but it’ll keep you hidden for a while.”

Kael eyed him suspiciously. “This place looks like it’s been abandoned for years.”

“Appearances can be deceiving,” Marcus replied with a smirk. “You’ll be safe here. No one will find you.”

“And what about you?” Caleb asked, his voice laced with distrust. “You just drop us off and disappear?”

Marcus shrugged. “I’ll be around. But for now, you need to lay low and avoid drawing attention to yourselves. I’ll check in when the time is right.”

I stepped forward, trying to keep my voice steady. “We’re taking a big risk trusting you, Marcus. Don’t make us regret it.”

His smile widened, but there was something cold in his eyes. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Without another word, Marcus turned and climbed back into his car, the engine roaring to life. He didn’t say goodbye. He simply drove off, disappearing into the night, leaving us standing in the clearing, surrounded by nothing but trees and silence.

Caleb was the first to move. “Let’s check the cabin.”

We approached the door cautiously, our footsteps crunching on the gravel beneath us. Caleb pushed the door open slowly, revealing a dimly lit interior. The cabin was small, with only one room. A single table sat in the center, surrounded by a few chairs, and a threadbare couch was pushed against the far wall. There was a small wood-burning stove in the corner, but no sign of modern amenities. It was as if time had stopped here.

Kael wrinkled his nose. “Well, it’s definitely seen better days.”

“At least it’s shelter,” I said, though I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

We moved inside, checking the windows and locking the door behind us. Caleb started a fire in the stove, the flames crackling softly as warmth slowly spread through the cabin. But the unease remained.

“I don’t like this,” Kael said, sitting down heavily on the couch. “We’re sitting ducks out here.”

“We don’t have a choice,” Caleb replied, his voice tight. “If Marcus is right, they’ll be coming for us soon. We need to be ready.”

I nodded, though my mind was racing with doubts. “We’ll take turns keeping watch tonight. We can’t afford to let our guard down.”

Hours passed in tense silence as we settled into the cabin, the fire casting flickering shadows on the walls. Each creak of the old wood, each whisper of the wind outside, put us on edge. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being lured into a trap.

My shift for watch duty came in the dead of night. I stood by the window, peering into the dark forest, my senses on high alert. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig sent a jolt of adrenaline through me. I couldn’t help but think of Marcus’ parting words — “No one will find you.”

But what if that wasn’t a promise of safety? What if it was a warning?

Suddenly, a faint noise broke the stillness. My heart leapt into my throat as I strained to listen. Footsteps. Soft, deliberate footsteps approaching the cabin. I gripped the edge of the window, my pulse racing. The others were asleep, trusting me to keep them safe.

The footsteps grew louder, closer. My breath caught in my chest as I saw movement at the edge of the trees — a shadowy figure slipping through the underbrush, their face hidden in the darkness.

I turned to wake Caleb and Kael, but before I could, the door creaked open.

I spun around, heart pounding, ready to fight — but it wasn’t the figure I expected.

Marcus stood in the doorway, a grim smile on his face.

“We need to talk,” he said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

I didn’t move. My instincts screamed that something was wrong.

“What’s going on?” I demanded, my voice low but steady.

Marcus glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. “You’re not as hidden as you think.”