Chapter 26

The darkness of the hunting lodge enveloped me, the silence only punctuated by the soft rustling of leaves outside and the distant call of nocturnal creatures. I forced my eyes shut, hoping that sleep would come quickly, but my mind was a chaotic whirlpool of thoughts and fears.

Images of the events leading up to this moment replayed like a broken record, each memory a reminder of how precarious our situation had become. The chilling realization that we were now targets haunted me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched, even here, in this remote sanctuary.

A soft creak pulled me from my thoughts. I opened my eyes, momentarily blinded by the dim light that filtered through the dusty windows. Caleb lay nearby, his expression tense in sleep, while Marcus remained on the opposite side of the room, lost in thought. Jake was still at the window, scanning the treeline, his silhouette tense and alert.

I quietly shifted, trying to find a comfortable position, but my anxiety wouldn’t allow it. I had to know what was going on outside. Slowly, I rose to my feet and moved toward Jake, careful not to wake the others.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper as I approached.

I shook my head, glancing out the window. “What if they find us?”

“They won’t,” Jake replied, though his tone lacked conviction. “Not if we stay alert and keep this place secured.”

I peered into the darkness, straining to see any signs of movement. “Do you really think we can trust them? The others?”

“I think we need to, at least for now,” he said, his gaze steady. “This isn’t the time for doubts. We have bigger problems.”

I turned to him, meeting his intense gaze. “What do you mean?”

He hesitated, weighing his words. “There are things you don’t know about Marcus and Caleb. Things that could change how you see them.”

I felt a pang of unease. “What are you talking about?”

“Let’s just say they have their own secrets. The kind that could put all of us in danger,” Jake said, his voice low and serious.

I swallowed hard, trying to process this new information. “And what about you? What secrets are you hiding?”

Jake looked away, the tension in his shoulders betraying his discomfort. “We all have our pasts. But right now, we need to focus on survival.”

As he spoke, I felt a surge of frustration. “You can’t just drop hints and expect me to feel safe. If we’re in this together, we need to be honest with each other.”

Jake took a deep breath, and for a moment, I thought he might share more. But instead, he remained silent, his expression inscrutable.

“Fine,” I said, stepping back. “But if we’re supposed to be a team, you need to let us in. All of us.”

“I will,” he finally said, though I sensed a hesitation in his tone. “But not yet. Not until it’s safe.”

With that, he turned back to the window, scanning the treeline as if expecting someone to emerge from the shadows. I felt a mix of anger and concern as I returned to my spot on the floor, settling down but unable to shake the tension in the air.

Time passed slowly, the weight of uncertainty hanging heavily over us. I listened to the soft sounds of the night—the distant rustling of leaves, the occasional chirp of crickets—trying to ground myself in the moment. But my mind kept drifting, haunted by thoughts of the past and the dark shadows of the future.

Eventually, I felt myself drifting off, my eyelids growing heavy. Just as I began to slip into a restless sleep, I was jolted awake by a loud bang.

My heart raced as I shot up, looking around. Jake was already on his feet, his expression tense. “Stay down!” he hissed, moving toward the door.

The others stirred, confusion etched on their faces. “What happened?” Caleb asked, rubbing his eyes.

“I heard something,” Jake replied, his voice low as he approached the door.

I held my breath, straining to hear over the pounding of my heart. The air felt charged, electric with fear and anticipation. Every instinct in me screamed that we were no longer safe.

Jake opened the door just a crack, peering outside. “It’s quiet,” he murmured, but I could see the worry etched into his features.

“Should we check it out?” Marcus suggested, his tone cautious.

“We don’t know what’s out there,” Jake replied, his voice firm. “We need to stay inside and keep watch.”

Caleb nodded, tension radiating off him as he glanced at the door. “But what if it’s them? What if they’re already here?”

As we exchanged worried glances, I could feel a sense of urgency rising within me. “We can’t wait. We need to know if we’re in danger.”

“Okay,” Jake conceded, his eyes narrowing. “But we go in pairs. No one goes alone.”

We quickly paired off, and I found myself with Caleb. As we moved toward the door, I could feel his protective presence beside me, a comforting weight in the chaos of the moment.

Jake opened the door wider, revealing the dimly lit porch and the shadows beyond. “Stay close,” he whispered, stepping outside.

Caleb and I followed, our senses heightened. The night air was thick with tension, and every sound seemed amplified.

“Do you see anything?” I whispered to Jake, my eyes scanning the dark forest.

“Not yet,” he replied, his voice low. “But something feels off.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. “Let’s check around the lodge,” I suggested. “We need to know if someone’s here.”

We split into groups again, Jake and Marcus moving toward the back of the lodge while Caleb and I headed toward the front. The shadows loomed around us, thick and oppressive.

As we moved cautiously, the eerie stillness felt suffocating. I glanced back at Caleb, whose face was set with determination. “What do you think happened?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, feeling a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. “But whatever it is, it can’t be good.”

We continued moving, our footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden planks of the porch. The night felt heavy with anticipation, and I could sense that we were on the brink of something significant.

As we rounded the corner, I spotted movement in the trees—a fleeting shadow darting between the trunks. My heart dropped, adrenaline flooding my system.

“Did you see that?” I whispered urgently to Caleb.

He nodded, his expression tense. “Yeah. We should get Jake.”

Before we could move, a sudden crash echoed through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching. Panic surged through me as I turned, my instincts screaming to run.

“Back to the lodge!” I shouted, grabbing Caleb’s arm and pulling him with me.

We sprinted toward the entrance, the sound of footsteps growing louder behind us. My breath came in ragged gasps as we burst through the door, slamming it shut behind us.

“Jake!” I shouted, my voice filled with desperation.

He and Marcus rushed back in, their expressions tight with alarm. “What happened?” Jake demanded, his eyes darting to the door.

“I saw someone in the trees,” I panted, my heart racing. “And then I heard footsteps.”

“Damn it,” Marcus cursed, his jaw clenched. “We need to secure this place.”

Jake moved quickly, pulling furniture in front of the door while Marcus checked the windows. I felt a swell of panic, my thoughts racing as I glanced at Caleb, whose face was pale with fear.

“We can’t stay here,” I said, my voice trembling. “If they’re coming, we need to find a way out.”

“Not yet,” Jake replied firmly. “We need to know who it is first. If it’s just a scout, we can deal with it.”

“What if it’s more than that?” Caleb asked, his voice edged with anxiety. “We can’t afford to take risks.”

“Right now, we need to be smart,” Jake said, his tone brokering no argument. “Let’s wait and see what they do.”

As we took positions, I felt the weight of fear bearing down on me. The shadows danced along the walls, and I knew that whatever was coming would test us in ways we couldn’t imagine.

The air felt thick with anticipation, and as we braced ourselves for the unknown, I realized that our fight for survival was only just beginning.