In The Heart of The Beast

The safe house Caleb had led them to was a dilapidated cabin buried deep in the woods. The air inside was thick with decay, the faint scent of damp wood clinging to everything. Scarlett sat at the shaky kitchen table, her fingers drumming against the laptop in front of her.

Nathan stood by the window; his sharp gaze fixed on the dirt road that wound through the forest. The weight of their escape lingered in his every movement. He hadn't said much since they arrived, but Scarlett could see the storm raging behind his eyes.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Caleb's voice broke the silence. He leaned against the doorframe; his face shadowed by exhaustion.

"We need to plan our next move."

Nathan turned slowly; his expression icy.

"You mean after you almost got us killed?"

Scarlett winced. The anger in Nathan's voice was deep, cutting through the room like a blade. Caleb flinched but held his ground.