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24- Darkness Closes In
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2025-02-07 22:57:01We 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 figure stood at the far end of the ravine, shrouded in darkness. My heart thudded in my chest, my breath catching as I squinted, trying to make out who—or what—was standing there. The figure didn’t move, just stood there, watching us. My pulse quickened. It wasn’t Marco. I would’ve recognized his sharp, calculated presence anywhere. But something about this person felt even more dangerous, like they were waiting for the right moment to strike.Haines took a step back, his hand gripping my arm. “Who is that?” he whispered, his voice trembling with fear.“I don’t know,” I said, my voice barely a whisper, but I knew one thing for certain: this wasn’t a good sign. Whoever they were, they weren’t here to help us.The figure moved forward slowly, their steps deliberate and measured. As they stepped out of the shadows, the faint moonlight illuminated their face. It was a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with a calm, almost casual expression on his face. His eyes, though—there was somethi
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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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