They kept their senses sharp as they made their way through the dark, following Tiger's directions. The massive, shadow-covered two-story safehouse was visible up ahead.

There was a low hum coming from inside, indicating that the security systems were still functional.


Reaching the east side of the building, they located the small, unassuming service entrance. It was ajar, a stroke of unexpected luck. With a deep breath, Sarah pressed the crowbar into Derrick's hand, a silent signal for their first hurdle.

He nodded grimly, understanding the gravity of the situation. Their first challenge was taking down the guard outside Olivia's room, which needed to be done quietly to prevent setting off the alarm.

Derrick inserted a tranquilizer dart into a homemade blowpipe he had constructed earlier that day from a hollowed-out branch with a practiced flick of his wrist.


Derrick took a deep breath to help him focus and peered through a crack in the door. The man in charge, a robust man with a clean-shaven head, was facing away from them and appeared to be absorbed in something small.

This was their chance.


With a silent prayer, Derrick unleashed the dart. The guard was hit in the back of the neck by the tiny missile of hope that took off and sailed through the air. With a grunt and a slight sway, the man fell to the ground with a gentle thud.

Sarah felt a wave of relief that briefly overshadowed the terror that was eating away at her insides. The first step, the quietest step, was complete. Now came the real challenge – finding Olivia and getting out unseen.

Swapping the crowbar for a set of lockpicks Didi had procured (another relic from her past, she'd explained with a sheepish grin), Sarah knelt before the door leading to Olivia's room. Her fingers moved in a rhythmic pattern across the lock, the quiet clicks providing a quiet contrast to her heart's racing.

The lock finally clicked open after what seemed like a lifetime. Sarah took a deep breath and pushed the door open just a little, letting the light spill into a tiny, bare room. Huddling onto the lone bed, Olivia's face was gaunt and marred by weeping.

"Olivia?" With intense emotion, Sarah uttered a murmur.

Olivia gave a startled look and raised her head. She seemed temporarily immobile, unable to process what she was seeing. She let out a relieved cry when consciousness finally dawned.

She gave a start and shook herself, calling out, "Sarah!"

Sarah hurried into the room and gave her sister a firm embrace. Olivia was grounded in the present by the familiar smell of her hair, a blend of teenage rebellion, lavender shampoo, and a tinge of anxiety.

Sarah's eyes filled with tears, a mixture of grief and relief. Both sadness for Olivia's ordeal and relief that she was safe have been felt.

Sarah said, "We're getting you out of here," her tone furious and determined.

Olivia clung to her sister, her body trembling slightly. "What about Ethan and Leo?" she choked out, a flicker of worry crossing her tear-streaked face.

"They're safe," Sarah reassured her, squeezing her hand gently. "Didi's with them. We'll all be together soon."

Every second counted. Sarah knew Miguel's window was closing fast. "Come on," she urged, gently pulling Olivia towards the door. "We need to go."

With caution, they left the room, with Sarah keeping a watchful eye on the hallway for any indication of trouble. Their breaths came in jerky gasps, but other than that, there was nothing. Reaching the service entrance, they found Derrick waiting, his face grim.

"We have company," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper.

Sarah's heart lurched. Their luck had run out. She could see a dim glow coming from the opposite side of the building through the thin slats of the service door. It appeared that an additional guard was going about.

"We need to get out of here, now!" Sarah muttered, adrenaline racing through her body.

They said nothing more as they slid out of the service entrance and into the cool night air. With his flashlight beam piercing into the darkness, the guard was drawing near, just a few feet away.

"Run!" Derrick yelled, shoving Sarah and Olivia towards the tree line.

Their thundering footsteps boomed through the forest as they ran into the night. Shouts from the guard and the panicked barking of one of the guard dogs broke the stillness and encouraged them forward.

Behind them, Sarah could hear the resounding thuds of footsteps, becoming closer by the moment. Fear gnawed at her throat, but she persisted because she had a strong need to keep her sister safe.

The night was suddenly filled with a loud snap and a startled shriek. With her heart racing in her chest, Sarah took a chance and glanced back. With his ankle being clutched and the flashlight rolling pointlessly a few feet away, the guard lay sprawled on the ground.

Derrick emerged from the shadows, a His voice was raspy as he screamed, "Keep going!"

They dove deeper into the forest, where the thick undergrowth provided some measure of cover. They didn't dare slow down even if thorns scraped at their clothes and invisible branches tugged at their hair.

Though they could no longer afford to remain complacent, the sound of pursuit had diminished.

They finally staggered into a clearing after what seemed like an age. With her lungs burning and her body wailing in protest, Sarah fell to the wet ground. Unable to stop crying, Olivia clung to her.

Derrick joined them, his chest heaving. He scanned the darkness around them, his eyes narrowed. "We need to find shelter. We can't stay here."

Sarah knew he was right. They were exposed, vulnerable. But where could they go? A few miles north was an abandoned cabin that Tiger had mentioned, but getting there in their current state looked unachievable.

Sarah felt a shudder run down her spine at that very moment when a twig snapped. Her impulse made her tighten her grip on Olivia's hand.

She said, her voice scarcely more than a scratchy croak, "Stay here," to Derrick.

She silently prayed as she moved closer to the sound source, her senses keenly aware. The forest floor was illuminated by an unsettling glow as the moon broke through the clouds. From behind a stand of trees, the outline of a black person became lost in the shadows.

Heart thumping in her chest, Sarah felt it. Was it another guard? Or something worse?

As the figure stepped into the moonlight, Sarah gasped. It was Tiger, his face etched with concern.

"Thank God you're alright," he said, relief flooding his voice. "I heard the commotion and came to check."

Sarah sagged against a tree, overwhelming emotions welling up inside her. Relief, exhaustion, and a surge of anger towards Bobby for putting them through this ordeal.

She managed to add, her voice choking with emotion, "We got Olivia." "But we must leave this place. Right now."

Tiger gave a brief nod. "Follow me," he whispered before turning and reentering the shadows.

Their pace had slowed somewhat, but their resolve remained steady as they followed Tiger through the tangle of woods. They eventually arrived at a little, run-down cabin tucked away among the trees after what felt like hours.

Ahead, the cabin stood out as a shadow in the rapidly darkening eastern sky. Weathered wood, a sagging roof, and a solitary boarded-up window staring out like a blind eye made for a sparse visual display. However, in their fatigued state, it served as a guiding light and a brief escape from the unrelenting chase.

Following Tiger's lead, they crept towards the back of the cabin. Here, nestled beneath a tangle of overgrown vines, was a small, concealed entrance. Tiger pushed aside the foliage, revealing a narrow, dirt-filled gap.

"It's not exactly cozy, but it should offer some temporary shelter until we can figure out our next move."

They pushed their way through the entrance one by one, into a small, moist room. They could barely breathe, yet it was worth the earthy smell of mildew filling their nostrils He ignited a crumpled wad of paper with a flick of his thumb, filling the vast room with light. A few dusty crates stacked in the corner and rough-hewn wooden beams above were visible in the wavering light. Not exactly luxurious accommodations, but it was dry and, more importantly, hidden.

Sarah sank down onto a crate, exhaustion finally taking hold. Olivia, curled up beside her, had fallen asleep, her breathing shallow and uneven. Derrick leaned against the damp wall, his eyes closed, but Sarah knew sleep wouldn't come easy for him either.

"Are we safe here?" Sarah whispered, her voice hoarse from disuse.

Tiger shook his head, a grim expression etched on his face. "Not entirely. The commotion back at the safehouse might have alerted others. We need to get out of this area as soon as possible."

"Where can we go?" Derrick asked, his voice laced with despair.

Tiger pondered for a moment, tracing a map etched onto the back of his hand with a calloused finger. "There's an old trapper's cabin further north," he said finally. "It's abandoned, but it's a bit more substantial than this root cellar. I used it as a hideout a few times back in the day."

"How far is it?" Sarah asked, her legs already aching at the thought of another trek through the woods.