Chapter 1.1
785 Words
Amanda shook her head. “No. We’ve just been hiding. Running. We don’t even know who we really are anymore.”
Addison clenched her fists, the firelight dancing off her features. “We are who we choose to be, Amanda. We survive. We fight. We don’t stop. That’s who we are.”
Amanda wanted to believe her. But the uncertainty in her sister’s voice, the way she couldn’t look at her directly, was enough to make Amanda doubt.
There was a knock at the door.
Both of them froze, hearts pounding.
“Who’s there?” Addison called out, her voice steady despite the adrenaline racing through her veins.
No response.
Addison’s hand slowly drifted to her bow as Amanda grabbed her dagger. Every muscle in their bodies tensed.
“Who’s there?” Addison demanded again, louder this time.
No answer.
Addison motioned to Amanda, signaling for her to stay low. Quietly, they approached the door, side by side, ready for anything. Addison’s heart thudded painfully against her chest.
The knock came again—louder.
Amanda moved to the side, ready to strike. But Addison’s senses sharpened, the feeling of being watched growing even stronger.
A voice, faint but unmistakable, came from the other side of the door.
“Addison… Amanda… It’s me.”
They froze.
The voice was unmistakable. It was her.
Addison’s breath caught in her throat. She looked at Amanda, confusion and shock written across her face. How could Laura be here?
“Laura?” Amanda whispered.
Addison swallowed hard and nodded, gesturing for Amanda to stay quiet. She slowly approached the door, her fingers curling around the handle.
Her heart was in her throat as she swung the door open just a crack, peering through. Standing outside, bathed in the soft glow of the firelight, was Laura, her eyes wide with concern. She looked out of breath, as if she had been running for miles.
“Laura,” Addison said hoarsely, her voice barely above a whisper. “What are you doing here?”
Laura’s expression softened, but there was a fear in her eyes that made Addison’s heart race. “I came looking for you two,” she said, her voice trembling. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you. After everything, I—”
She paused, glancing behind her as if making sure no one was following her. “They’re coming for you. They know you’re alive.”
The twins exchanged a look of shock and confusion.
“How?” Amanda asked.
Laura stepped forward, lowering her voice. “I don’t know. But I have a friend who… who works in the shadows. They’ve been tracking Project Ethos for a while, and they’ve found something. You’re not the only ones. There are others like you, Addison. Like both of you.”
Amanda felt a wave of unease flood her chest. “What do you mean? Others like us?”
Laura’s voice was barely audible. “I don’t know. But they’ve already found you once. And they’re getting closer.”
Addison stepped back, her mind racing. We can’t stay here.
“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Addison asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.
“I couldn’t. It wasn’t safe. I had to make sure I wasn’t being followed.” Laura’s voice cracked as she took another step forward. “They’re coming for you, and they’ll stop at nothing to finish what they started.”
Amanda shook her head. “Then what do we do now?”
Laura’s face hardened, her gaze becoming more determined. “We run. But this time, you don’t do it alone.
The fire crackled softly as the three of them stood together in the dim light, the tension in the air palpable. Addison knew that, despite everything, they couldn’t stay here any longer. The cabin, the forest—it was no longer safe.
They had to leave.
“I don’t trust them,” Amanda whispered under her breath, her voice shaky.
Addison’s eyes flicked toward her twin. “I know. But we don’t have a choice.”
Laura stepped forward; her face resolute. “I’ll help you. But we need to move fast. We don’t have much time.”
Addison nodded. “Then let’s go. We’ll figure it out along the way.”
Amanda didn’t reply. But she knew, deep down, that this was the only choice they had left.
They gathered what little they had—supplies, food, their weapons—and prepared to leave the only home they had known for years.
As they stepped into the night, the fire burning brightly behind them, they couldn’t shake the feeling that something much darker was waiting just beyond the trees.
The hunt had begun again.
- Writer
