Chapter 38: A Sinister Discovery

Aurélie's heart was racing as she threw off the covers and got out of bed. She moved quietly to the window and pulled back the curtain, peering out into the darkness.

At first, she saw nothing. Just the trees, swaying gently in the breeze. But then, she caught a glimpse of something moving in the distance.

A figure, lurking just beyond the edge of the clearing.

Aurélie's blood ran cold as she realized that they had been found. The syndicate had tracked them down, and now they were closing in.

She turned to wake Léon and Sophie, but as she did, she noticed something strange. A piece of paper on the kitchen table, with a note scrawled on it in red ink.

Aurélie's heart skipped a beat as she read the words. "You'll never be safe," it said. "We'll always find you."

Suddenly, the lights in the cottage flickered and died, plunging them into darkness. Aurélie heard a faint noise, like the sound of footsteps, coming from outside.

And then, everything went black.

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How's that? I'll continue the story in the next installment. Let me know if you have any feedback or suggestions!

By the way, we're getting close to the climax of the story. Are you excited to see how it all unfolds?