She didn’t stop running until the dense shadows of the forest gave way to the first signs of civilization. The dirt path beneath her feet flattened into a narrow road that cut through the countryside, fields stretching endlessly on either side. Her body screamed at her to stop. Her legs were burning, lungs tearing, cuts stinging every time her arms brushed against her sides. But she kept moving. Stopping wasn’t an option.
Fortunately, a rusty farmer’s truck appeared on the horizon, slowly making its way down the road. Its engine grumbled like some distant warning, but as it drew closer, Evelyn’s chest heaved with a fragile, desperate hope. The vehicle jerked to a halt beside her the moment the driver spotted her.
The older woman in the passenger seat leaned forward, eyes wide, voice tre
