The forest seemed endless.
Branches snapped beneath Ava's shoes as Lucien guided her deeper through the darkness. The distant voices of the hunters slowly faded, but the tension never left her chest.
After nearly an hour of walking, Lucien finally stopped.
Through the trees, Ava saw a faint glow of light.
A small cabin stood alone in the middle of a clearing.
It looked old, almost forgotten by time.
Aurora whistled softly.
"Well… you certainly know how to disappear."
Lucien pushed open the wooden door and motioned for them to enter.
Inside, the cabin was surprisingly clean. A small fireplace, a worn couch, and a narrow staircase leading upstairs.
Ava stepped inside slowly.
"You've been here before."
Lucien nodded.
"It's safe."
Aurora laughed lightly.
"Safe is a relative term when half the criminal world is chasing us."
Lucien ignored her.
Instead, he turned to Ava.
"You should rest."
She shook her head.
"I can't. Not after what I remembered."
Lucien's gaze sharpened.
"Tell me again."
Ava took a slow breath.
"I was investigating someone. Something powerful. An organization."
Aurora raised an eyebrow.
"Do you know how many dangerous organizations exist?"
Ava nodded slowly.
"But this one controls governments… corporations… everything."
Silence filled the cabin.
Lucien studied her carefully.
"If that's true," he said quietly, "then you were far more important than you realized."
Ava felt a chill run through her body.
"Which means they won't stop hunting me."
Lucien's voice was firm.
"No. They won't."