Chapter 114: Into the Depths

The clearing felt like a temporary reprieve, a stolen moment of calm in a night that had been anything but. My heart was still racing, each beat echoing the terror that clung to my skin like a second layer. Around me, the group was catching their breath, eyes darting toward the dark forest we’d just escaped from.

London stood a few feet away, his back to us, scanning the tree line. The way his body was coiled, like a spring ready to snap, told me he didn’t believe the danger was behind us.

“Do you think they’ll find us?” Tasha’s voice broke through the silence, trembling and small. She stood close to me, her arms wrapped tightly around her middle like she was trying to hold herself together.

“They’re not done looking,” London said without turning around. His voice was steady, but it held a grim edge that sent a chill down my spine. “We need to keep moving.”

“We can’t just keep running,” I said, rising to my feet despite my aching legs. “They’ll catch us eventually if we don’t find somewhere safe.”

London finally turned to face me, his eyes hard but not unkind. “And where exactly do you suggest we go, Milli? Because right now, it’s run or die.”

His words stung, but they were the truth, and I hated that I didn’t have a better answer.

“There’s an old cabin,” one of the girls piped up, her voice hesitant. It was the wiry teenager with the sharp cheekbones. She had been quiet most of the night, but now she stepped forward, her expression determined. “My uncle used to hunt out here. It’s not far, and it’s hidden.”

London’s gaze shifted to her, assessing. “How far?”

“Maybe a mile, two at most,” she said, her voice gaining confidence.

London nodded. “Lead the way.”

We set off again, this time with the girl—whose name I learned was Nikki—taking point. The forest seemed to close in around us, the tall trees blocking out the moonlight and plunging us into near darkness. London stayed close to me, his presence a steadying force in the chaos.

“How are you holding up?” he asked quietly as we walked.

I glanced at him, surprised by the softness in his tone. “I’m still breathing, so there’s that.”

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You’re tougher than you give yourself credit for, you know.”

I wanted to argue, to tell him that I felt anything but tough, but his words planted a seed of warmth in the pit of my stomach. For a moment, it made the weight of the night feel a little lighter.

The sound of snapping branches behind us shattered the fragile calm. My heart leapt into my throat as London spun around, his hand going to the knife at his side.

“Keep moving!” he barked, his voice sharp and urgent.

We broke into a run again, fear fueling our legs as the distant shouts of our pursuers reached our ears. The forest seemed to blur around me, my only focus on staying upright and keeping pace with the others.

“There!” Nikki shouted, pointing to a dark shape looming in the distance.

The cabin was small and weathered, its wooden walls blending into the surrounding trees. It looked abandoned, but right now, it was the most welcoming sight I’d ever seen.

We piled inside, slamming the door shut behind us. London immediately started barricading it with whatever he could find—a rickety table, a couple of old chairs.

The interior was sparse, with a single room dominated by a stone fireplace. The air was musty, and cobwebs hung in the corners, but it felt like a sanctuary.

“Everyone stay away from the windows,” London ordered, his voice firm.

I helped Tasha and Nikki settle the younger girls in a corner, their eyes wide with fear. My hands were shaking as I tried to reassure them, but I wasn’t sure who I was trying to convince—them or myself.

London crouched by the door, his knife glinting faintly in the dim light. He glanced at me, his expression unreadable.

“We’ll be okay,” I said, though I wasn’t sure if I believed it.

He nodded, but his grip on the knife tightened.

The minutes stretched into an eternity, the silence broken only by the sound of our ragged breathing. Every creak of the old cabin made my heart race, every shadow outside the window a potential threat.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the room. Someone—or something—was trying to get in.

“Stay back!” London shouted, positioning himself in front of the door.

My mind raced, adrenaline surging through my veins as I searched for something—anything—I could use to help. My eyes landed on a rusted fire poker near the hearth. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.

I grabbed it, gripping it tightly as I moved to stand beside London. He glanced at me, his eyes widening in surprise.

“What are you doing?” he hissed.

“Standing with you,” I said, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my insides.

For a moment, he looked like he wanted to argue, but then he nodded, a flicker of pride in his eyes.

The door shuddered under another blow, the wood splintering. My grip on the poker tightened, and I braced myself for whatever was about to come through.

This was it—the breaking point.

And I wasn’t going down without a fight.