All Chapters of A Night to forever : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

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

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

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

Chapter 28: The Final Betrayal“You knew,” I whispered, my voice trembling as I stared at Alex. “You knew this was going to happen, didn’t you?” He stood across the room, his hands clenched into fists. His silence was louder than any denial he could muster. I stepped closer, my breath shallow as my anger boiled over. “Say something! Don’t just stand there acting like you’re the victim!” “Adeline, it’s not what you think,” he finally said, his voice low, almost pleading. “Oh, really?” I shot back, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you sold us out!” Alex’s jaw tightened, his eyes darting toward the door where Reid and Precious were. “I did what I had to do to keep you safe.” “Safe?” I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “You call this safe? They’re outside, Alex. Right now. They’ve surrounded the house!” He took a step forward, but I held up my hand, stopping him in his tracks. “Don’t come any closer. I don’t even know who you a

Chapter 30: A Row to CallThe headlights grew closer, the hum of the engine a small comfort against the chaos of the night. I tightened my grip on Reid’s hand, praying whoever was behind the wheel wasn’t another threat. “Stay behind me,” I whispered, stepping onto the road as the car rolled to a stop. Precious clung to Reid, her wide eyes darting nervously. The driver’s side window rolled down, revealing an older man with kind eyes and a furrowed brow. “You folks look like you’ve been through hell,” he said, his voice gruff but concerned. “What’s going on here?” what do we do to get help, I think we have to speak up so someone or people will know that we're in need o they help urgently, can't let this chance go, can't keep taking chances please “Please, we need help,” I said quickly, scanning the woods for any sign of pursuit. “Can you take us into town?” The man hesitated, his gaze flicking to the treeline. “Trouble with someone?” “Big trouble,” I admitted, glancing back