Chapter 72: Shadows of the Past

Ashley awoke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. It took a moment for her to remember where she was—safe, for now, in the small, nondescript safe house nestled deep within the forest. The events of the previous day came rushing back, and she glanced over at Amelia, who was still sleeping soundly beside her.

The room was dim, with only the faintest light filtering through the cracks in the boarded-up windows. Outside, the forest was quiet, the morning mist hanging low in the air. But even the stillness couldn’t calm the storm of emotions raging inside her.

Ashley slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake her sister. She needed a moment to collect herself, to think. The events of the past few weeks had left her reeling, and she was struggling to keep up. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of confusion, anger, and grief.

She tiptoed out of the room and made her way to the small kitchen, where Jackson was already awake, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in