The air behind the large bush was chilly, carrying the wet, heavy smell of soil and old, decaying leaves. For a few precious minutes, this small, hidden space was the only world they knew. It was a tiny, temporary safe haven where the four of them could do nothing but gasp for air, their chests heaving, and listen to the wild, frantic beating of their own hearts. The sounds of the city—the far-off wail of police sirens and the occasional, sharp crack of gunfire—were a constant, grim warning. Their escape, their freedom, was real, but it was also fragile and terrifyingly easy to lose.
Evelyn was the first one to speak, breaking the tense silence. Her voice was unsteady, little more than a scared whisper. "We can't stay here. They'll spread out looking for us. They'll search every alleyway and check behind every fence."
