Sixteen

Fiora POV

I woke up slowly, feeling the chill of the morning air seeping through the cracks in the cabin walls. The sun had not fully risen yet, but its orange light already touched the treetops outside the window. The soft chirping of birds filled the air, bringing a sense of calm that was almost foreign to me. For the first time since I was with Brynmor, I felt at peace.

I turned toward the window, and as I expected, Brynmor was already standing there. His back was straight as usual, his eyes sharp as he watched the forest surrounding the cabin. He held a small weapon in his right hand, though his movements remained calm. For a moment, I wondered if he had ever truly felt safe. Or if his life had always been filled with threats like this.

“You’re awake,” he said without turning, as if he knew I was watching him.

I sat up on the wooden bed, pulling the blanket around me to fend off the morning chill. “You didn’t sleep last night, did you?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

“Sleeping is not a priority,” he replied briefly.

I sighed. Brynmor was always like that. Always on guard, always vigilant. Sometimes I wondered how he could survive without enough rest. But I knew he did all this to protect me. Slowly, I got out of bed and walked over to him.

“Is the perimeter secure?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

He nodded without turning. “For now, yes.”

But I could feel the tension behind his words. Something was troubling him. I reached out and touched his arm gently. “What is it?”

Brynmor finally turned, looking at me with an expression that was hard to read. “I found footprints near the edge of the forest this morning. Not ours.”

My heart seemed to stop. “You mean... they’ve found us?”

He shook his head slightly. “Not certain. But I’m not taking any chances. We might have to leave sooner than planned.”

I bit my lip, trying to calm the pounding of my heart. Our lives had just started to feel normal last night, and now the threat was back. I knew it was only a matter of time before they found us, but I hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

“Can’t we stay here a little longer?” I asked, even though I knew the answer would likely be unpleasant.

Brynmor looked at me with an expression that was harsh but not cold. “If they find us here, we’ll be trapped with no way out. I won’t take that risk, especially for you.”

His words made my chest tighten. I knew he was right, but it was hard for me to leave this place. This small cabin was the only place where I could feel like a normal human being, even if only for one night.

“How much time do we have?” I asked softly.

“It’s hard to say for sure. Maybe a few hours, maybe less. We need to get ready now.”

I nodded, trying to hide my fear. I walked over to the bed and started gathering the few small items I had. Not much—just clothes, the harmonica, and a few personal belongings. Brynmor, on the other hand, was already busy checking weapons and food supplies.

Once everything was ready, we left the cabin and walked toward the edge of the forest. The cold morning air now felt sharper, carrying a tension that I could almost feel on my skin. Brynmor walked ahead of me, always making sure our path was clear. I followed cautiously, trying not to make any noise that might attract attention from whoever might be watching.

\---

The sun was higher when we finally stopped at a small clearing in the middle of the forest. Brynmor examined the tracks around us carefully. I stood still, hugging myself to fight off the cold and nerves.

“There are no signs of them here,” he said finally, though his tone didn’t sound relieved. “But we can’t stay long.”

“Is this what we’ll be doing forever?” I asked suddenly, my voice nearly trembling. “Moving from one place to another, always running?”

Brynmor turned and looked at me. His eyes were dark, but not angry. “This isn’t the life I chose, Fiora. And I know it’s not the life you want. But until we find a way to stop them, this is our only option.”

I knew he was right, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept. “You said you had a plan,” I reminded him. “Can’t it be done now?”

Brynmor paused for a moment, as if carefully considering his response. “That plan needs time and... preparation. I can’t do it now, not with them still chasing us.”

I sighed, feeling frustrated. I didn’t want to keep living like this, but I also knew there were no easy solutions. “Then what do we do now?”

Brynmor stepped closer and looked at me with seriousness. “We keep moving, looking for a safer place. And I need you to stay strong, Fiora.”

His words were simple, but there was something in them that gave me strength. I nodded, even though the fear still gnawed at my mind. “Alright. I’ll try.”

We continued our journey through the forest, passing towering trees and dense underbrush. The sounds of nature surrounded us, the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, and the distant flow of a stream. But I couldn’t enjoy the beauty of it. Every small sound made me tense, worried it was a sign of the enemy’s presence.

As night began to fall, we found a small cave on the side of a hill. Brynmor inspected its interior carefully before finally nodding to me. “We can stay here for the night.”

I entered the cave, sighing in relief as I finally sat down and rested. Brynmor, as usual, was still on guard. He stood at the entrance of the cave, scanning the surroundings with his weapon in hand.

“You’re not going to sleep again, are you?” I asked.

He turned, his expression softening. “I’ll sleep later, after I’m sure we’re safe.”

I didn’t want to argue, but I knew he needed rest more than anything. “You know, you don’t have to do this alone,” I said quietly. “I’m here. I can help you.”

Brynmor gave a small, tired smile, though it looked more like a smile full of exhaustion. “I know you want to help, Fiora. And I appreciate it. But protecting you is my job.”

“My job is to protect you, too,” I retorted firmly.

He was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Alright. From now on, we work together.”

His words made me feel relieved, but also made me aware of the responsibility I now carried. I couldn’t just be someone who was protected. I had to be someone Brynmor could rely on.

As the night came and I finally managed to sleep, I was awakened by the sound of rustling outside the cave. My heart leapt. I sat up straight, trying to listen more clearly.

“Brynmor,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He was already standing at the entrance of the cave, weapon raised. “Stay here,” he ordered softly.

I wanted to protest, but before I could say anything, shadows appeared outside the cave. Brynmor moved quickly, shooting one of them before they could approach. I heard shouts and footsteps getting closer.

“You need to go now!” Brynmor shouted, turning to me.

I grabbed my small bag and ran in the direction he pointed. Tears streamed down my face, but I kept running, hoping Brynmor would follow me soon. I knew he wouldn’t leave me, but the fear was still there.

I heard gunfire behind me, followed by a deafening silence. I wanted to turn back, but I knew it would be foolish. So I kept running, even though my legs were starting to tire.

When I finally stopped, I found myself in an open field with scattered small trees. I was panting, looking around in panic. Brynmor wasn’t there. I bit my lip, trying to hold back my sobs.

“Fiora.”

The voice nearly made me jump. I turned and saw Brynmor emerging from behind the shadows of the trees. He looked tired and slightly bloodied, but he was alive. I ran toward him without thinking, and he embraced me briefly.

“We can’t stay here,” he said as he pulled away. “They might still be chasing us.”

I wiped away my tears. “I’m ready.”