Chapter Eleven
618 Words
The cold night air bit into Alison’s skin as she hurried after Nicholas as they left the cabin, their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of fallen leaves. The forest seemed endless, a maze of shadows and shifting shapes that offered both protection and unease.
Nicholas moved forward, his instincts telling him where to go as he felt the cool metal of the gun in his hand. Each sound; each rustle, made Alison jump.
"Where are we going?" she asked breathlessly.
“Somewhere away from Mason’s cabin,” Nicholas responded abruptly. “We can’t stay here.”
Alison nodded, though her legs ached from the relentless pace. Fear was her source of energy now.
They got into the car ready to flee.
“Dammit,” Nicholas let out a groan in frustration as the car refused to start. Minutes passed and it didn't work. He tried fixing it but it still didn't work.
“Get down, we have to move, we don't have much time,” he said to Alison, and they continued their journey.
As they walked, Nick couldn't stop thinking about Mason. He was still so angry. That lie had almost killed them, and just the thought of it made him sick with fury.
"Do you think Mason will come after us?" Alison asked as if reading his mind.
"He won't get the chance," Nick said coldly. "When Adrian's men find him, they'll deal with him for failing."
The thought didn’t soothe Alison at all. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep warm and keep the fear away.
They reached a small stream, its water gleaming ghostly under the moonlight. Nick stooped and knelt by the edge, signaling for Alison to do the same.
“Wash your hands and face," he said. "It will keep you awake.
She did as he said, the cold water waking her senses. Nicholas watched, his eyes steadily scanning the area "Do you think Adrian's men are close?" Alison asked, her voice was almost a whisper as she asked it.
"They're always close," Nicholas grimaced. "That's why we can't afford any mistakes."
Their travel continued, slowly greening as the forest opened. Alison fell over several times but Nicholas steadied her.
They stumbled through waiting what seemed like thousands of years, finally seeing the outline of building out the disappearing edge.
"That's it," came Nicholas's low voice.
The ranger station was small and aged, with boarded windows and a drooping roof. But it was isolated, and that was all that mattered.
Nicholas crept up with his gun out. He circled the place, looking closely for signs of life as he moved.
"It's clear," he said, gesturing for Alison to come in.
The Station was dark and musty from the inside. The wooden furniture was dusty and there were cobwebs in the corners. But it was dry and the walls thick enough to deafen any form of sound.
"This'll work," said Nicholas, setting his backpack down.
Alison sank into an old chair, the muscles in her body quavering as they ran down with fatigue.
"What do you think? Are we safe here?"
"For now," Nicholas said, though his tone was anything but reassuring. "We'll rest a few hours to see about our next move."
He went to one of the boarded-up windows and looked through it. Nothing moved before him; the forest stretched, silent. But he knew better than to let his guard down.
As Alison fell into a troubled sleep, Nicholas remained by the window girded by the gun across his knee. His mind raced for possible ways of staying ahead of Adrian and keeping Alison safe.
But there was one thought running through his mind.
TIME WAS RUNNING OUT.
- Writer
