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2025-01-14 15:22:40
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A Night to forever The Edge of Truth
Chapter 20: The Edge of TruthThe sound of shattering glass jolted me awake. My breath hitched as I sat upright, my heart hammering against my ribs. Precious stirred beside me, clutching Reid, whose little body tensed in his sleep. “Stay here,” I whispered, trying to steady my trembling voice. I moved toward the cabin door, every step feeling like I was inching closer to the edge of a cliff. Alex was already there, his back to me, his frame taut with alertness. He held his gun firmly, peering through the crack in the door. His head snapped toward me as I approached. “I told you to stay with Reid,” he hissed, his voice low but filled with authority. “And let you handle this alone? No,” I replied, my voice sharper than I intended. “What’s going on?”“Something’s out there,” he muttered, gesturing toward the dense forest. “Stay quiet.”My stomach churned as I peered over his shoulder. The darkness outside was suffocating, but there was movement—shadowy figures blending into the night
Last Updated : 2025-01-14A Night to forever A Truth too Heavy to Bear
Chapter 21:A Truth Too Heavy to BearI should have known better than to believe we were safe. The first warning came as a crackling sound on the cabin's lone radio, static laced with unintelligible murmurs. I glanced at Alex, who sat at the table sharpening a knife, his movements slow and deliberate. He froze when the sound broke through the room, his eyes meeting mine in an instant of shared panic. "What’s that?" I asked, my voice trembling as I held Reid closer. He was sketching something with the crayons Alex had brought him, oblivious to the tension. Alex set the knife down and moved to the radio, his fingers adjusting the dial. "It’s nothing. Probably interference." But it didn’t feel like nothing. The static had a strange rhythm, almost like a message trying to claw its way through. My stomach churned. I had learned to trust my instincts, and right now, they screamed at me that something was wrong. "We need to leave," I said abruptly, standing. Alex looked at me as if
Last Updated : 2025-01-14A Night to forever The Weight of Choices
Chapter 22: The Weight of ChoicesThe silence after the attack was deafening. Every creak in the floorboards and whisper of wind outside sounded like a threat. I sat on the edge of the bed, clutching the gun Alex had handed me earlier. Reid was curled up next to me, fast asleep despite the chaos from hours ago. His small body was so still, his face peaceful. How could he sleep in a world that refused to let us breathe? Precious sat near the window, her eyes bloodshot and darting nervously between the curtains and the floor. She hadn’t spoken a word since the man had burst into the cabin, and I didn’t push her to talk. I didn’t blame her. I hadn’t stopped replaying the moment I’d swung the wrench and watched the man fall. "Adeline," Alex’s voice broke through the haze. I turned to find him standing in the doorway, his face shadowed by the faint light from the hallway. He looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes, but his expression was sharp, focused. "We need to talk," he
Last Updated : 2025-01-14A Night to forever It doesn't worth the betrayal
Chapter 23: It doesn't worth the betrayal I didn’t trust the silence. It wrapped around the cabin like a noose, too still, too calculated. My fingers tightened around the gun, its cold steel biting into my palm. Reid was asleep on the couch, his tiny form cocooned in a blanket that felt far too thin for the chill in the air. Precious sat by the window, her eyes darting nervously to the darkness outside. Alex paced the room like a caged lion, his energy crackling like static. “They’re waiting us out,” Alex muttered, more to himself than to me. “How do you know?” I asked, my voice low but steady. He stopped mid-step and turned to face me. “Because it’s what I’d do.” The weight of his words hung between us, unspoken truths lurking just beneath the surface. I hated how calm he seemed, how ready he was for all of this. Like he belonged to this chaos. “What are you not telling me, Alex?” He stiffened, his jaw tightening. “What are you talking about?” “You seem to know a
Last Updated : 2025-01-14A Night to forever Just a Deal
Chapter 24: Just a Deal "Don't move," Alex whispered, his voice low and sharp, a dagger of warning. I froze, every muscle in my body tightening like a coiled spring. Reid clung to my leg, his tiny fingers digging into my jeans. Precious was crouched behind the couch, her breathing uneven. The cabin was cloaked in a suffocating silence, save for the faint rustle of leaves outside. "They're circling," Alex murmured, peering through the crack in the boarded-up window. His gun was steady in his hands, his knuckles white from the grip. "How many?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Four," he said grimly. "Maybe five. They're waiting for something." "What could they be waiting for?" I shot back, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "They’ve already driven us into a corner. Isn’t that enough?" Alex didn’t respond. His jaw was set, his eyes scanning the darkness outside like a predator waiting to pounce. I couldn’t stand the tension any longer. "We need to talk to them," I
Last Updated : 2025-01-15A Night to forever The Storm We Didn't see coming
Chapter 25: The Storm We Didn't See Coming The moment Reid ran into my arms, holding a crumpled note, I knew something was wrong. His face was flushed, and his eyes shone with excitement and unease. “Mum, I saw him,” he blurted out, thrusting the paper into my hands. “Dad. He left this.” My heart skipped a beat as I stared at the note, my fingers trembling as I unfolded it. The words, hastily scrawled in familiar handwriting, sent a shiver down my spine: *“Adeline, we need to talk.”* I froze, my thoughts racing. Alex. After all these years, after all the silence, he wanted to talk? Why now? Why today? “You’re sure it was him?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Reid nodded emphatically. “I saw him, Mum! He was at the café near the bookstore. He didn’t see me, but he left this on the table. I took it when he left.” I swallowed hard, clutching the note like it might disappear. The words blurred as tears filled my eyes. I’d spent years convincing myself I didn’t need closur
Last Updated : 2025-01-15A Night to forever Through the Fire
Chapter 26: Through the FireI barely felt the cold air bite into my skin as I ran. The gravel crunched beneath my feet, each step echoing in the eerie silence. Reid clung to my back, his arms wrapped tightly around my neck. I couldn’t let him go—not now, not ever. “Are they still behind us?” I whispered over my shoulder, my breath coming in sharp bursts. Precious’s voice trembled. “I—I think so. I heard footsteps a moment ago.” or I wasn't getting it straight in my head?I slowed down, carefully lowering Reid to the ground. “Stay close to me,” I said, crouching to meet his tear-streaked face. “Don’t let go of Precious’s hand. No matter what happens, you stay with her. Do you hear me?” Reid nodded, his wide eyes brimming with fear. “But what about you, Mum?” “I’ll be right behind you,” I lied. The forest around us was alive with shadows, the moonlight barely piercing through the thick canopy of trees. Somewhere in the distance, a branch snapped, and Precious gasped. “The
Last Updated : 2025-01-16A Night to forever The Betrayal within
Chapter 27: The Betrayal WithinI stood frozen, the sound of shattering glass still echoing in my ears. Reid’s scream pierced through my panic, snapping me back to the moment. My heart raced as I spun toward him, my instincts on full alert. “Reid!” I called, rushing to his side. He was crouched behind the couch, clutching his stuffed bear like it was a lifeline. His eyes were wide, brimming with tears, but he was unharmed. “It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you,” I whispered, pulling him into my arms. But it wasn’t okay. The shadows outside the window shifted, and I knew someone was out there. Alex’s warnings played on repeat in my mind. *They’ll make their move when you least expect it.* Well, here it was—unexpected and terrifying. “Precious!” I called out, my voice shaking. She appeared in the hallway, her face pale. “What’s going on?” “Take Reid. Hide in the back room and don’t come out until I say so,” I ordered. My tone left no room for argument. “What about you?” she
Last Updated : 2025-01-16
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A Night to forever The Thin Line Between Fear and Resolve
Chapter 44:The Thin Line Between Fear and ResolveThe silence of the house wasn’t comforting anymore. It was suffocating. Every creak of the floorboards, every hum of the fridge sounded like a warning, a reminder that peace was a luxury we couldn’t afford. Reid’s laughter from earlier that day still echoed in my ears, but now it felt distant, almost like a cruel memory of something I might lose. I stared at him as he slept, his tiny hand clutching the edge of his blanket. He looked so peaceful, so unaware of the storm that was circling us. I couldn’t sleep. My body refused to rest. Instead, I sat in the dim light of the living room, my legs folded under me on the couch, eyes fixed on the door. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming. Alex was somewhere in the shadows, pacing like a restless predator. His movements were silent, but I could feel him. I hated that his presence both unsettled me and brought me a sliver of comfort. “You should get some rest,” he said
A Night to forever The Last step before the Fall
Chapter 43:The Last Step Before the Fall“Reid, get behind me!” I snapped, yanking him toward the wall as Alex stepped forward, gun in hand. The room felt too small, the walls closing in as heavy footsteps echoed outside. Alex’s eyes darted between me and the door, calculating every possible move, while Precious clutched the arm of the couch, frozen in place. “Stay quiet,” Alex whispered, his voice calm but laced with urgency. I could barely breathe. My pulse hammered in my ears, and every second felt like an eternity. Reid clung to my leg, his tiny fingers digging into my jeans. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look calm—for him. The knock came. Three sharp raps that sent my heart plunging into my stomach. Alex didn’t move. His grip on the gun tightened, his finger hovering near the trigger. I could see the sweat dripping down his temple, though his expression remained unreadable. “Open up,” a voice called from the other side. It was deep, firm, and entirely unfamilia
A Night to forever The Price of Trust
Chapter 42: The Price of Trust The rain pelted against the window, each droplet a small hammer tapping at my nerves. The storm outside mirrored the chaos inside the house. Alex was pacing again, his brow furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line. I sat at the edge of the couch, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, trying to suppress the tremor in my fingers. Precious was in the next room with Reid, keeping him occupied with one of his puzzles. It was the only thing that seemed to calm him these days. “How much longer do you think we have?” I asked finally, breaking the heavy silence. Alex stopped mid-step and turned to me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Not long. They’re closing in.” A chill ran down my spine. His words confirmed what I’d been feeling for days—that the walls were closing in on us, that no matter how far we ran, we couldn’t outrun the past. “What do they want, Alex?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Why can’t they just leave us alone?” He hesit
A Night to forever The Unseen War
Chapter 41: The Unseen War I wasn’t prepared for the silence that greeted me. It wasn’t the comforting stillness that usually meant safety—it was oppressive, like the air was holding its breath. Every step I took felt like walking on glass, the tension threatening to shatter at any moment. Alex stood near the window, his body taut like a coiled spring. He didn’t turn when I entered the room, but his sharp whisper cut through the quiet. “They’re here.” My stomach twisted. “Are you sure?” He pointed outside, where faint shadows flickered against the glow of a distant streetlamp. They were subtle—too subtle for someone who wasn’t looking. But Alex had always been good at spotting the invisible threats. “What do we do?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. “Stay calm.” He finally turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “Get Reid and Precious into the basement. Now.” Basement. My heart sank. Reid hated small, confined spaces. I’d barely convinced him t
A Night to forever The Price of Silence
Chapter 40: The Price of Silence I slammed the door behind me, my heart racing. Reid’s panicked cries echoed in my ears as I pressed my back against the wall, trying to steady my breathing. “Where is Alex?” I whispered under my breath, scanning the room. The safehouse had never felt smaller, its walls closing in on me. Every creak, every shadow felt like a threat. “Mum?” Reid’s voice wavered from the corner of the room. His little hands clutched Precious’s sleeve as she crouched beside him, trying to keep him calm. I forced a smile, though my chest felt like it was caving in. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” I said, my voice trembling. “I’m here.” He didn’t look convinced. “Adeline, we can’t stay here,” Precious muttered, her voice barely audible. I nodded. She was right. The safehouse wasn’t safe anymore, not with Alex gone and no plan in place. But where could we go? Every option felt like a trap waiting to spring. “Pack your things,” I said, keeping my voice steady for Re
A Night to forever Shattered illusions
Chapter 39: Shattered IllusionsI barely registered the cold metal of the handcuffs biting into my wrists as they locked me into the chair. My thoughts spiraled, every nerve in my body screaming to fight, to run, but I forced myself to stay calm. If I panicked now, I’d lose everything. Across from me, the room was empty except for a single table and the shadowed figure leaning against it. His face was cloaked in darkness, but I didn’t need to see him to feel the weight of his presence. “You’ve been busy, Ms. Peace,” he said finally, his voice low and smooth, like a predator toying with its prey. I glared at him, refusing to respond. He wanted a reaction, but I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. He stepped forward, the light catching the sharp angles of his face. I recognized him instantly—Cole. He was one of *them*. Alex’s warnings about people like him echoed in my mind. “What do you want?” I spat, my voice steadier than I felt. Cole smirked. “It’s not about what I want
A Night to forever The Unbelievable
Chapter 38: The Unbelievable I didn’t realize how quiet the room had grown until the sound of my own breathing filled the space. Alex stood across from me, his expression unreadable, his arms crossed like he was bracing for whatever storm I was about to unleash.“Tell me you’re joking,” I said, my voice low, trembling with disbelief. “I wish I was.” His words came out cold and firm, but there was a flicker of regret in his eyes that he couldn’t quite hide. The letter in my hand felt heavier than it had any right to. A single page, yet it held the kind of information that could destroy lives. “You were working with them this whole time?” My voice cracked as I forced the question out. “I had no choice.” “You *had no choice*?” I repeated, my anger surging now. “You always have a choice, Alex. But you made yours, didn’t you? You chose them over us.” He didn’t answer, his silence speaking louder than words ever could. Precious peeked into the room, her face pale. “Is everyt
A Night to forever Beneath the surface
Chapter 37: Beneath the SurfaceThe silence in the room was deafening. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest as I paced back and forth, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a vice. Precious sat in the corner, her hands clasped tightly together, her face pale. Reid was unusually quiet, sitting cross-legged on the floor, his eyes darting between me and the door. “Alex, this is madness,” I finally said, my voice breaking the heavy stillness. “We can’t just wait here. We have to do something.” Alex stood near the window, his eyes scanning the dark street below. His shoulders were tense, his jaw clenched. He hadn’t said much since the call came in—just enough to tell me that things were worse than we thought. “We don’t have a choice,” he said, his voice low and measured. “If we move now, we’ll play right into their hands.” “And staying here makes us sitting ducks,” I shot back. “You’re asking me to gamble with Reid’s life. I won’t do that.” Alex turned to fa
A Night to forever The Edge of Loyalty
Chapter 36: The Edge of LoyaltyThe headlights blinded me for a second, freezing me in place like prey caught in a predator’s trap. I held Reid tighter, his little arms clinging to my neck as if sensing the danger ahead. Precious stopped beside me, her breath shallow and frantic. And there she was—Sarah. Standing beside the sleek black car, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. "Adeline," she called out, her voice carrying across the distance like a dagger. "Get in the car." I didn’t move. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but my legs refused to obey. “What do you want from us?” I shouted back, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. Sarah took a step closer, her heels clicking against the pavement. “I want to save you from yourself. You think you can outrun this? You think they’ll stop coming for you?” “Stay back!” I yelled, shifting Reid to my other arm. Sarah stopped, her gaze softening. “Adeline, you’re making this harder than it needs to be. Come
