A loud thud echoed off the marble courtyard when Mr. Black's mansion's big oak door slammed shut. The sound of a lone individual laughing echoed through the large home like thunder in the distance.

Mr. Black sat back in a cozy recliner, his familiar face creased with laughter. He grabbed a phone and called a familiar number.


Sarah tensed up when the cabin phone rang, far away in the dim light of a crackling fire. It was an unexpected intrusion into their fragile sense of security.

With a quick glance at Olivia, who was engrossed in a book by the firelight, Sarah picked up the receiver, her voice cautious.

"Hello?"


"Sarah, it's Mr. Black," a warm voice filled the receiver. "I hope this call doesn't find you at an inconvenient hour."

Relief washed over Sarah. "Mr. Black? Is everything alright?"


"Let's just say we had some unexpected visitors tonight," Mr. Black replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "A rather disgruntled gentleman by the name of Bobby Duke. Our wonderful friend."

Sarah's blood ran cold. "Bobby? What did he want?"

"Oh, the usual bluster and threats," Mr. Black chuckled softly. "Wanted to know if you were enjoying your 'vacation' here."

"Did you tell him anything?" Sarah pressed, worry lacing her voice.

"Let's just say I played a bit of a game with him," Mr. Black said. "Let's call it deflection through witty banter."

Sarah had a slight smile forming on the edge of her lips. "Mr. Black, I appreciate your assistance."

"Think nothing of it, Sarah," Mr. Black replied. "However, this little visit does raise some concerns. While Bobby may not suspect your presence here at the moment, there's a chance this won't be his last attempt to find you."

Sarah's smile vanished. "Do you believe that we are no longer safe in this place?"

Mr. Black suggested that it might be beneficial to think about changing the surroundings.

"Do you have a different place in your thoughts?" Sarah asked, hope flickering in her eyes.

"There might be an option," Mr. Black said thoughtfully. "But before we discuss that, there's another matter at hand. Tiger."

Sarah's brow furrowed. "Tiger?"

"He was rather… invested in your escape," Mr. Black explained. "Bobby might eventually put two and two together. For his own safety, it might be best if he distanced himself for a while."

Sarah made eye contact with Derrick, who was listening attentively by the fireside, exchanging a concerned look. "What about him?" she inquired, her voice filled with worry.

"Do not fret, I have a strategy," Mr. Black reassured her.. "He'll be safe. Just trust me, Sarah."

Silence hung heavy in the air for a moment. Sarah took a deep breath. "Alright, Mr. Black," she finally said, her voice filled with a newfound resolve. "We trust you."

"Excellent," Mr. Black said with satisfaction. "Now, get some rest. We'll discuss the next move in the morning."

The call ended, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Sarah recounted the conversation to Derrick, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and determination..

"It was Mr. Black," she announced, her voice strained. "Bobby came to see him."

After becoming lost in a book, Derrick slammed it shut and turned to look at Sarah. "Bobby? Why did he say that?

"Information," Sarah said in a tense voice. "He wanted to know if I was here."

Ignoring the sudden tension across the table, Olivia's forehead wrinkled in concentration as she read the book she was carrying.

"Did Mr. Black…" Derrick began, his voice trailing off.

"He deflected him," Sarah assured him, a flicker of relief crossing her features. "He says he played a game with him."

Derrick chuckled, a dry humor coloring his voice. "Mr. Black and his witty banter."

Despite the humor, the room remained heavy with the weight of the news. Bobby's visit felt like a dark cloud on the horizon, a reminder that their escape wasn't as invisible as they'd hoped.

"Mr. Black also said…" Sarah started, her voice hesitant, "that we might not be safe here anymore."

"Not safe?" Olivia finally looked up, her innocent eyes wide with concern.

"It's okay, Olivia," Sarah soothed, her hand reaching out to squeeze the young girl's shoulder. "Mr. Black thinks it would be best if we moved on."

"Moved on?" Derrick echoed, his gaze darting nervously around the small cabin. "Where would we go?"

"He mentioned another place," Sarah admitted. "A safe house, apparently."

"Another safe house?" Derrick muttered, a skeptical frown creasing his forehead. "The last one ended up getting blown to kingdom come."

"This one will be different," Sarah said with a forced confidence she didn't quite feel. "Mr. Black assured me."

"And Tiger? What about him?" Derrick asked, his gaze filled with concern.

"Mr. Black says he has a plan to keep him safe."

Derrick snorted. "Just like he had a plan to deflect Bobby with witty banter?"

Sarah bristled slightly. "Mr. Black has helped us so far," she defended. "We have to trust him."

A doubt began to seep into her heart even as she was speaking. Mr. Black was an enigmatic person who was an ally by accident rather than choice. It was risky to trust him, but they didn't have much choice.

They were all startled as the cabin door creaked open. Tiger stood framed in the doorway, his face cast in shadow by the night outside.

With a hushed voice, he said, "I heard your conversation."

Sarah felt her heart pounding fiercely. "Hawk! This isn't the place for you.. It's not safe."

"I know," Tiger replied, stepping into the warm glow of the firelight. "Mr. Black called me too."

Sarah's stomach churned. "He thinks it's best for you to leave."

Tiger's gaze met hers, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his dark eyes. "I understand," he said finally. "But before I go, I want to help you get settled in your next location."

"Mr. Black mentioned there might be another place…" Sarah began, but Tiger cut her off.

"There is," he confirmed, his voice firm. "A safe house, much more secure than this cabin. But it's a long journey, and you'll need someone who knows the way."

The decision hung heavy in the air, thick with tension. Olivia, sensing the shift in mood, clutched Sarah's hand tightly.

"Tiger," Sarah began, her voice cautious, "we appreciate the offer. But wouldn't it be dangerous for you too? Bobby might suspect..."

Tiger gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable. "He might. I have spent my life on the outer edges, constantly checking behind me. Mr. Black reassures me that he has a strategy to ensure my safety."

Derrick's lips were graced by a faint wry smile. "Mr. Black and his games. Doesn't that sound somewhat familiar?"

Sarah lightly pushed him with her elbow, silently asking him to retreat. While distrust lingered, particularly after the debacle with their last safe house, their options were dwindling.

"We need to consider Olivia," Sarah reasoned. "The journey will be difficult. We need someone with experience, someone who can navigate the dangers."

Tiger stepped forward, his voice low and reassuring. "I can do that. This safe house, it's far away, deep in the mountains. It's an old hunting lodge, isolated and well-fortified."

Derrick's brow furrowed. "An isolated hunting lodge? Seems like something out of a horror movie."

"It's not," Tiger countered. "It's secure. There's a network of tunnels that lead out from the lodge in case of an emergency."

The mention of tunnels sparked a flicker of Olivia's fear. "Tunnels? Like in the dark?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Sarah knelt beside Olivia, pulling her into a comforting hug. "Don't worry, sweetie. We won't go anywhere scary. We'll all be together."

Olivia clung to Sarah, seeking comfort. The prospect of another move, another unknown, filled her with anxiety. Looking up at Sarah with tear-filled eyes, she whispered, "Can we take Pip?"

Pip, the curious chipmunk Olivia had befriended, peeked out from his makeshift nest in her pocket. Sarah offered a weak smile. "Of course, honey. We wouldn't leave Pip behind."

Derrick sighed, his gaze flitting between Sarah and Tiger. "Alright," he conceded, "we'll consider it. But first, we need to know more about this hunting lodge. How do we get there? What kind of dangers are we talking about?"

Tiger, a flicker of relief crossing his features, launched into a detailed explanation. He described the secluded mountain location, accessible only by a treacherous, unmarked path, and the potential threats they might encounter along the way.

As Tiger spoke, a map materialized from his backpack, a detailed illustration of the treacherous path leading to the secluded hunting lodge. He pointed out landmarks, potential dangers, and possible escape routes.

As Sarah listened, hope ignited within her. This safe house, remote as it was, sounded like a far more secure option than their current location.

The die was cast. With a heavy heart but a sense of purpose, they decided to accept Tiger's offer. Dawn would break soon, and with it, a new chapter in their journey.

They would leave the familiar comfort of the cabin behind, embarking on a perilous trek towards the unknown, with a shadow of suspicion clinging to their newfound guide.