Chapter 34: A Close Call

Bella's instincts kicked in as she heard the sound of footsteps getting closer and closer. She quickly ushered the girls inside their temporary house, a small, camouflaged hut made of branches and leaves.

"Get inside and stay quiet," Bella whispered urgently, her eyes scanning the surrounding area.

The girls nodded, their faces pale with fear. They huddled together, holding their breath as Bella stood guard at the entrance.

The sound of footsteps grew louder, and Bella could tell that the group of men was getting closer. She held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest.

But just as suddenly as they had appeared, the men stopped at the edge of the clearing. They seemed to be discussing something, their voices low and indistinct.

Bella watched them warily, her senses on high alert. She knew that they couldn't stay hidden forever, but for now, it seemed like they had managed to avoid detection.

After what felt like an eternity, the men finally moved on, disappearing into the trees. Bella let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders sagging with exhaustion.

The girls looked up at her, their eyes wide with fear. "What were they doing here?" one of them whispered.

Bella shook her head. "I don't know, but we need to be more careful from now on. We can't stay here forever."

The girls nodded, understanding. They knew that they had to keep moving, to stay one step ahead of whoever was looking for them.

As they settled in for the night, Bella couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched. She knew that they had to be vigilant, to protect themselves from harm.