In the past 2

When they reached at their village, the whole village was deserted with no trace of any living or dead person. Finding it strange they searched the whole village but found nothing about the whereabouts of their people. As the day came to its verge they decided to settle for night at the village and to look after others in the morning.

Keir and Hazel were sitting on the stairs going down to the lakelet; looking at the still and serene water, reflecting the moonless night sky studded with stars. Hazel placed her head on his shoulder and he caressed her head from behind.

"I'm sorry for not being able to protect you and our people. I should have been more careful. Its all my fault." He said.

"Its not your fault. You did your best to protect us. The one who should be blamed for all this was Maddox, how could he sabotage his own family and people?" She told him. Placing her right hand on his left cheek she adjusted his face, making him look in her eyes; she said, "You are so good that you seek good in everyone but some people never worth our trust. Don't blame yourself for all this, we all trust you and believe in you that you will make everything alright. Alright." She moved her head up and down, her eyes twinkling with determination as she asked him to confirm her statement.

"Alright", he nodded and smiled at her, placing a small kiss on her forehead he again placed her head on his shoulder and started stroking her head lightly, as she closed her eyes and inhaled his intoxicating scent.

Keir got up from the bed when he heard some noise outside; he looked at his son who was sleeping peacefully in his cradle besides her mother's side, she was also sound asleep. He walked out of the room silently closing the door behind him. He checked the entire place and everything was alright when he returned back, he found Halter standing outside his room.

"What happened?" He asked Halter in a hushed tone.

"I think Maddox got our location." Before Halter could complete his sentence they heard a loud bang against the front door.

"Halter, listen to me carefully, this is important." Keir spoke to him.

"We don't have much time, you take Georgia and Hazel with you to the east and try to find about Bennett. I will stay here and stop them to come after you." He instructed Halter.

"But how can i leave you here, in this condition, to fight with them." Eyeing Keir's injured body he replied.

"Halter." He placed his hand over his right shoulder and putting some weight he said, "Don't worry about me."

"I'm not leaving your side" Halter tried to protest but Keir stopped him in between and ordered him to follow his command.

Hazel came out, holding the baby near her chest. She looked at Keir with worry filled in her eyes, scanning her surroundings she asked, "Are they here?" .

Keir nodded in response and her body tensed up, she tightened her hold around her child when he closed the distance between them by going to her.

"Hazel"he called her and she shooked her head in denial knowing what he was about to say. She didn't want to leave him.

"Hazel" he called her again, lightly shaking her shoulders with his hands.

"Please." He begged her, his eyes focused on her, "please" he repeated again hugging her from the side. Her eyes became moist with unshed tears and heart dropped when he pulled away.

He smiled at her and placed a kiss on his son's forehead, who was sleeping peacefully in his mother's arms. Georgia and Halter was already standing at the side waiting for them. Without wasting another second he walked them inside the master bedroom and locked the door. Halter reached to the table placed at the centre and pushed it aside, folding the carpet he removed the tile, opening the tunnel. Halter stepped inside first and Georgia followed behind, Hazel handed her the baby; she turned to Keir, he caressed her head gently and helped her to enter into the tunnel, he bent over the opening and touched her forehead with his, tears rolled on his face and he sniffed a long breath, "I'm sorry." He breathed out when Hazel sniveled and her body shook with every sob. She bit her lower lip to stop her cries and before going down she said, "I love you." And he blinked his eyes, capturing her face inside them, inhaling her scent for the last time he closed his eyes and replied her. "I love you too my love." when she stepped down.

Placing the tile back to its place as he arranged everything like before when the door crashed with a loud bang.

Georgia's feet were tired of running, but she kept on running without stopping, she was holding the baby close to her heart, which was beating like a drum inside her chest. As soon as the last of the night was over, the sounds coming from behind her also stopped.

With the first ray of sun she stepped out of that frightening forest and entered into the world of humans. She stopped and removed her hand from the child's mouth who was now looking at her with his innocent little eyes. She hugged him and told him not to worry anymore.