Chapter 23: A Perilous Journey.

Bella told the girls that they had to keep moving, but they couldn't use the main road. She held the youngest girl's hand and said, "Let's go." The town was quiet, and it was past midnight, casting a dark and eerie shadow over the deserted streets.

They walked for a while, then sat down to rest for about 5 minutes before continuing on their way. The girls didn't know where they were going, but they knew they had to keep moving.

As they walked, the girls told Bella that they were thirsty. Bella replied, "We should keep moving; we might find water." She then lifted the youngest girl onto her back, and they continued on their journey.

After what felt like hours of walking, they finally stumbled upon a small stream. Bella told the girls to rest their legs in the water, and although it was cold, they were sweating and tired from walking.

The girls started playing and laughing as they showered in the stream, and Bella couldn't help but smile as she watched them. She thought to herself that she needed to protect them, and it was now her responsibility.

But their respite was short-lived. Bella knew that they couldn't stay there for long, or they would risk being caught. She told the girls to hurry up and finish showering, and they reluctantly got out of the stream.

As they continued on their journey, Bella couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched. She kept looking over her shoulder, expecting to see Simon and his crew closing in on them.

But for now, they seemed to be safe. The girls were quiet, exhausted from their ordeal, and Bella knew that she had to keep them safe.

As they walked, Bella thought about their situation. They had no food, no water, and no shelter. They were alone and vulnerable, and Bella knew that she had to find a way to keep them safe.

She thought about the stream they had found earlier and wondered if there were any other sources of water nearby. She also thought about finding food, but for now, they had to keep moving.

As the night wore on, Bella knew that they had to find a place to hide. She looked around, but all she saw were fields and forests stretching out as far as the eye could see.

Just when she thought they would have to spend the night in the open, Bella spotted a small barn in the distance. It looked abandoned, but it was better than nothing.

She led the girls towards the barn, hoping that it would provide them with some shelter from the elements. As they approached the barn, Bella's heart was racing with anticipation.

Would they be safe there? Only time would tell.