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24- Darkness Closes In
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2025-02-06 22:56:10The night deepened, wrapping the forest in shadows as we moved through the trees, the air cold and biting. My breath came in ragged gasps, the exhaustion settling into my bones. Every muscle in my body screamed for rest, but we couldn’t stop. Not with Marco so close. Not with every step we took feeling like it might be our last.
Haines stumbled behind me, his footsteps heavy and uneven. I slowed down, turning to look at him. His face was pale, his eyes wide with fear. He was barely holding on.
“We have to keep moving,” I whispered urgently, grabbing his arm to steady him.
“I—I can’t,” he gasped, doubling over and clutching his knees. “I can’t keep up… I’m not built for this.”
I clenched my jaw, knowing he was right. His breathing was labored, each inhale sounding more desperate than the last. I could see the exhaustion etched into every line of his face. He wasn’t used to runni
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Ruined By Mafia 24- Darkness Closes In
We made our way to the cabin, slipping inside through the broken door. The interior was dark and musty, the air thick with the smell of damp wood. It was small, just one room with an old, broken-down fireplace and a single window that had long since been shattered.Haines collapsed onto the floor, his body trembling with exhaustion. I leaned against the wall, my legs shaking as I tried to steady my breathing. The weight of everything we had been through pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating. My mind was a whirlwind of fear and exhaustion, but for the first time in what felt like hours, we had a moment to catch our breath.The cabin was silent except for the sound of Haines’ ragged breathing. He was on the verge of collapse, and I couldn’t blame him. We were both pushed far beyond our limits.I glanced toward the broken window, my eyes scanning the forest beyond for any signs of movement. Marco was still out there, hunting us, and I knew he wouldn
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The tension between them was palpable, and I could feel the man’s indecision in the way he shifted his weight. He wasn’t sure what to do, and that gave me just enough time.With a burst of adrenaline, I twisted beneath him, bringing my knee up and slamming it into his side. He grunted in pain, his grip loosening just enough for me to slip free.I scrambled to my feet, backing away from both men, my heart pounding in my chest.Marco watched me for a moment, then turned his attention back to the man. “You should leave while you can.”The man sneered, clearly unhappy with the turn of events, but he knew he was outmatched. He gave me one last look—cold and full of promise—before he turned and disappeared into the shadows.I stood there, panting, my body trembling with fear and exhaustion as I watched him go. Marco remained where he was, his expression still unreadable.Finally, he turned to me, his voice low.
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We ran, the forest closing in around us, the branches tearing at my skin, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Every step was a desperate attempt to stay ahead, to keep moving. Marco’s footsteps weren’t far behind, and even though his voice had faded into the distance, I could still feel him closing in.Haines stumbled next to me, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He wasn’t built for this. He’d always been someone who thrived in quiet spaces, far from danger, and now, here we were, running for our lives. I wanted to shout at him to keep going, to push through the exhaustion, but I could feel his strength fading. We couldn’t last much longer.“Elena…” Haines wheezed, grabbing my arm for support. “I—I can’t keep up.”I glanced at him, the moonlight catching the lines of fear etched into his face. His legs were trembling, his chest heaving. I knew if we kept pushing him, he’d coll
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