chapter 15

Chapter 15: The Unexpected Allies

The cabin was a stage for a twisted game of hide-and-seek. Sarah and John, their bodies pressed against the cold, damp wall, their hearts pounding in their chests, listened to the two voices echoing through the darkness.

The raspy voice, sounding older, almost croaky, continued to question their presence. "Who's there? Come out, I won't hurt you. Just come out and let me see you."

The young voice, sounding more confident, joined in, his voice tinged with a hint of impatience. "Yeah, who is it? We're not afraid of you."

Sarah and John exchanged a nervous glance. The situation had taken an unexpected turn. Who were these people, and what were their intentions? They couldn't risk revealing themselves.

The older voice, still sounding unnerved, spoke again, "We're not trying to hurt anyone. We're just looking for a place to stay. It's getting cold out here, and we need some shelter."

The young voice, sounding more assured, interrupted, "Yeah, and you sound kind of creepy. So come on, show yourself. We're not afraid of you."

Sarah, her mind racing, knew they had to find a way to escape. They couldn't stay here, not with these strangers. But they couldn't risk being seen either. They needed to find a way to slip away unnoticed.

She looked to John, her eyes pleading for understanding. They had to be careful. They had to think fast.

Suddenly, a loud bang resonated through the cabin, followed by the sound of a struggle, the muffled sound of a fist connecting with flesh.

"What was that?" the young voice said, sounding a little startled.

The older voice, his voice edged with anger, responded, "Just a squirrel, nothing to worry about. Come on, let's go find a different place to sleep. This place is too creepy for me."

The sounds of the two figures retreating from the cabin door filled the silence.

Sarah, her heart pounding, exchanged a look with John. They were safe, for now. But they couldn't stay here. They had to get out of the woods. They had to find a way to get back to civilization.

The silence in the cabin was deafening, the only sounds the creaking of the old wood and the occasional chirp of a cricket outside. Sarah and John, their bodies trembling with a mix of relief and anxiety, waited, listening for any sign of the men who had just left.

"Who were they?" John whispered, his voice strained. "Why did they come here?"

Sarah, her mind racing, couldn't shake the feeling that they were in more danger than they had realized. The two men had appeared out of nowhere, and their intentions were unclear. They had entered the cabin, but they hadn't come in to harm them. So why were they there?

"I don't know," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "But I think we need to find out."

She leaned in closer to John, her gaze locked on his. "We can't stay here. We need to get out of these woods. And we need to be careful. These men, they seem…off."

"What should we do?" John asked, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and determination. "What about Edward Grey? What if he's still after us?"

"We'll keep moving," Sarah said, her voice firm and resolute. "We'll stay ahead of him. And we'll find a way to contact the police. We need to get back to civilization."

They waited until the night had fallen, until the forest was shrouded in darkness, before they cautiously crept out of the cabin. They moved silently through the woods, their senses on high alert, their footsteps light and sure. They knew they were being watched, and they knew they were in danger.

But they were also determined to survive.

As they moved through the darkness, they heard the sound of a voice calling their name.

"Sarah? John? Is that you?"

The voice sounded familiar, but Sarah couldn't place it. She stopped, her heart pounding in her chest, and looked towards the sound. She couldn't see anything. Only shadows.

"Who's there?" she called back, her voice trembling slightly.

The voice, closer now, answered, "It's me, Max. Max Hayes. We were supposed to meet here. The cabin, it's the place we agreed upon."

Sarah, her mind racing, recognized the name. Max Hayes. He was a park ranger, a man who had been helping the police with their search for Edward Grey.

But what was he doing here, in the middle of the woods?