They moved quickly, the faint glow of their flashlights cutting through the darkness as they left the ruins behind. Caleb’s chest heaved as he tried to keep up with Evelyn, his boots crunching against the dirt path.


    “You want to tell me what that guy was mumbling about?” Caleb asked, his voice tight.


    “Not here,” Evelyn said without looking back.


    “That’s starting to sound like your catchphrase,” Caleb muttered.


    Evelyn didn’t respond. She kept moving, her focus locked on the path ahead. Caleb couldn’t tell if she was ignoring him or just too tired to argue.


    The forest felt different now, more alive. Caleb could hear the faint rustle of leaves, the snap of a branch somewhere in the distance. He tightened his grip on his gun, his flashlight darting between the shadows.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    “They’re not following us,” Evelyn said suddenly, breaking the silence.


    Caleb frowned. “How do you know?”


    “Because if they were, we’d already be dead,” Evelyn replied.


    “That’s… comforting,” Caleb muttered.


    Evelyn glanced back at him briefly, her green eyes sharp. “We’re not out of danger yet.”


    “Didn’t think we were,” Caleb said, his voice low.


    They stopped at a small clearing, the faint glow of moonlight breaking through the canopy above. Evelyn knelt down, pulling a small water bottle from her pack. She took a quick sip before handing it to Caleb.


    “Here,” she said.


    Caleb raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. He took the bottle, downing a few gulps before handing it back.


    “What now?” Caleb asked.


    “We keep moving,” Evelyn said, slipping the bottle back into her pack.


    Caleb sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re really bad at pep talks, you know that?”


    Evelyn’s lips twitched, but she didn’t say anything.