Echoes of the Past

Chapter Five

The ancient cabin creaked around them as if whispering secrets to the night. Scarlett sat on the floor, Liam curled against her, his eyes drooping with exhaustion but too fearful to fully close. The air was thick with tension, the silence so loud it felt like a living thing pressing down on them. Daniel paced in the dim light of the single oil lamp, the glow casting long, flickering shadows that danced across his sharp features.

Scarlett’s heart was a wild drum in her chest, a relentless reminder of everything that had just unfolded. Her fingers traced the worn stitching of Liam’s bear, a mindless habit that kept her tethered to the moment, even as her thoughts raced. The question hung between them, unasked but urgent: what now?

Daniel finally stopped pacing and looked at her. Her gut twisted at the weight in his eyes. Because of the decisions he had taken and the life he had led, he was no longer the man she had fallen for years before; instead, there was something harsh and raw about him today.

He broke the silence by saying, "We can't stay here long." His voice was rough, barely above a whisper. “They’ll search the woods until they find us. We need to move before dawn.”

Scarlett tightened her hold on Liam, who stirred and muttered something incomprehensible before nestling deeper into her lap. She looked up at Daniel, exhaustion and frustration tightening her throat. “Move where, Daniel? We’re running out of places to hide.”

Daniel’s jaw clenched. He kneeled down in front of her, so close that she could see the flecks of gray in his eyes, the small scar at his temple that hadn’t been there before. “There’s one place they won’t think to look. But getting there will mean trusting people I haven’t spoken to in years.”

She frowned, the memory of the Cross family’s reach stretching out like dark tendrils in her mind. “Who, Daniel? Now, who could be able to assist us?

His eyes moved, his eyes shadowed by remorse. "Former allies... people who owe me money." It won't be simple, though. They aren't exactly pals.

Scarlett's mouth became parched. The thought of adding more anonymous gamers made her cringe, but what else could they do? She looked down at Liam, whose little chest bobbed and flowed in his sleep, blissfully unaware of the threat that was closing in on them. Her voice was skeptical as she asked, "Do you trust them?"

Daniel didn’t answer right away. He forced himself up and turned to face the door, listening carefully as though he were anticipating a noise from outside. Finally, he turned back to her and stated, "I trust them more than I trust the alternatives." "And that must be sufficient."

Knowing that a rebuttal would only result in a quarrel that none of them could afford, Scarlett bit it back. Rather, she nodded and moved to pick Liam up. She attempted a grin as he stirred, and his eyes fluttered open to greet hers.

She kissed his forehead and whispered, "Hey, buddy." "All right, let's embark on another journey. Are you brave enough for Mama?

Liam nodded sleepily, his trust in her absolute. It twisted something deep in Scarlett’s chest—a mix of pride and fear that nearly stole her breath.

Daniel moved to the small cabinet at the side of the room, rummaging through the supplies he’d stashed there. He handed Scarlett a thin blanket and an old flashlight. “We’ll take the path through the forest, cut down by the creek. It will be safer but slower.

With a nod, Scarlett wrapped the blanket around Liam and adjusted his weight on her hip. Despite her internal quiver, she spoke steadily as she said, "Lead the way."

The chilly air sliced through Scarlett's sweater's thin material as they slid out the rear door. Only the murmurs of the wind and the odd crackle of leaves could be heard beneath the darkness of the forest, which engulfed both light and sound. Daniel stepped forward, the slender beam from his flashlight cutting through the darkness.

Scarlett trailed behind, cautious with every step, her gaze darting between the trail ahead and the trees that towered like silent guardians. With his arms wrapped over her neck and his petite frame warm against hers, Liam was silent. She prayed she could protect him from the truth that was edging closer and closer.

Daniel abruptly halted and held up a palm for quiet. As she listened, her ears straining for the sound that had made him tense, Scarlett's breath caught. It seemed as if the woodland held its breath. Her heart leaped into her throat when she heard a branch snap in the distance.

Daniel's eyes locked with hers, fierce and urgent. He nodded toward the trail that wound down to the brook and murmured, "Go." Scarlett acted without hesitation. She walked more quickly, taking care not to trip over the uneven surface. Daniel hovered behind her, listening and waiting.

The night then burst forth.

A gruff, demanding voice broke the tense silence with a call. "They're present! Get out there!

Scarlett's veins flooded with adrenaline, causing her pulse to gallop. Footsteps thundered behind them as she fled, Liam holding on to her with newfound vigor. In a matter of seconds, Daniel caught up with her, took her arm, and guided her down a narrower route that wound among the trees.

His breath was heavy, but he was determined to keep going. The world was a swirl of dark shadows and flickering light as the forest closed in on them, branches rubbing at their clothing.

The shouts grew louder, more insistent. Scarlett risked a glance back and saw beams of flashlights cutting through the darkness, dancing erratically as their pursuers stumbled over the terrain.

A sudden roar, like an animal’s snarl, split the night, and Scarlett’s blood ran cold. Daniel abruptly turned and pushed her into a slit between two big trees. With a stern voice, he commanded, "Stay down," and then retreated into the darkness.

Scarlett placed her back against the bark and held Liam close. Her heart was thumping in her chest, and she could hear the faint sounds of a scuffle—grunts, the dull thud of bodies colliding. The tiny circle of light on the ground trembled as the flashlight she was holding shook in her grasp.

Then there was quiet. Shouts and footsteps vanished, as though engulfed by the trees, and the forest grew silent.

Scarlett's breath came in sharp gasps as she strained to hear any sound that would provide a hint as to what had transpired. One minute went by, and then another. She felt suffocated by the weight of the stillness. She wanted to make sure Daniel was still there by calling out to him, but she refrained out of fear.

Then a figure moved toward her out of the darkness. She braced herself, tightening her hold on Liam, who clutched her shirt with small, shaking fingers.

“Scarlett,” Daniel’s voice called softly, rough, and strained. He showed up, a cut above his eye dripping blood, but he was still alive. She felt a wave of relief that was so intense that she nearly collapsed.

He looked back over his shoulder and remarked, "This place is unsafe." “They’ll regroup. We have to keep moving.”

Scarlett nodded, unable to find her voice. She pushed herself up, one arm cradling Liam, who stared at Daniel with wide, silent eyes.

As they slipped deeper into the forest, Daniel’s words echoed in her mind: They’ll regroup. We have to keep moving. This fight was far from over, and every step they took brought them closer to the heart of danger—and deeper into the secrets that could destroy them all.