The boy moved slowly, his steps hesitant. His eyes darted between Evelyn and Sarah, as if expecting them to attack.  
Evelyn kept her voice calm. “What’s your name?”  
He hesitated. “…Liam.”  
Sarah didn’t waste time. “Liam, we need to move. Now.”  
Liam’s hands clenched into fists. “They’ll be back soon.”  
Evelyn frowned. “Who?”  
Liam swallowed hard. His voice dropped to a whisper. “The men. The ones who take people.”  
A cold weight settled in Evelyn’s stomach.  
Sarah tensed. “Slavers?”  
Liam gave a small, shaky nod.  
Evelyn’s jaw tightened. She had heard of them before, groups that preyed on survivors, kidnapping them, selling them off. Some were taken for labor. Others… worse.  
Sarah turned toward the window, checking the road outside. “We need to go. Now.”  
Anna’s voice came from downstairs. “Guys?”  
Evelyn moved fast, Liam following close behind. As they reached the front door, Anna’s face was pale.  
“They’re coming,” she whispered.  
Evelyn’s heart pounded. “How many?”  
Anna’s hands shook. “Five. Maybe six.”  
Sarah muttered a curse.  
They had two choices.  
Run.  
Or fight.  
Liam tugged on Evelyn’s sleeve, his voice urgent. “There’s a back way.”  
She didn’t hesitate. “Show us.”  
Liam led them through the kitchen, toward a back door hidden behind old shelves. He pushed it open, revealing an overgrown path leading into the trees.  
Sarah glanced back. “If they catch us, we’re dead.”  
Evelyn didn’t answer. She grabbed Liam’s hand and ran.  
The others followed, slipping into the shadows of the forest just as voices echoed from the front of the house.  
They didn’t stop.  
Branches scratched at their skin, leaves crunched underfoot, but they kept moving.  
Behind them, the voices grew louder.  
Then came the sound of footsteps.  
They were being followed.  
Evelyn pushed forward, heart pounding.  
They had to survive.  
No matter what.
The forest felt endless. Every step was a gamble. The air was thick with the scent of wet earth and decay, and Evelyn’s breath came in sharp, quick bursts. Her legs ached from running, but she couldn’t stop, not now, not with the slavers close behind.  
Liam was still with them, his small legs struggling to keep up. Evelyn’s grip on his hand tightened. “Stay close!”  
Behind them, Sarah cursed as a branch snapped. They weren’t far enough ahead. The sound of footsteps grew louder.  
“They’re gaining on us,” Sarah panted, her machete bouncing against her back with every stride.  
Evelyn’s mind raced. They needed to lose them, somehow.  
There was a creek up ahead. If they could make it there, the sound of the water might drown out their footsteps. It was their best chance.  
“Keep going!” Evelyn urged.  
Liam stumbled, almost tripping over a root. Evelyn grabbed him by the arm, steadying him. “You okay?”  
He nodded, eyes wide with fear. “They’re not far. They’ll catch us.”  
“They won’t,” Evelyn said firmly. “We’ll make it.”  
They pushed forward, the creek just ahead now. The sound of rushing water filled the air, a welcomed noise that masked their movement. They ran alongside it, staying low, hoping the slavers would miss them.  
But they weren’t lucky.  
The slavers broke through the tree line, shouting. “They’re here! Get them!”  
Evelyn’s heart skipped. There were at least six of them, armed with bats, knives, and worse. She glanced at Sarah.  
“We need to fight,” Sarah said, her voice cold.  
Evelyn nodded.  
“Anna, stay behind us,” Evelyn said, pulling out her knife.  
Anna’s eyes were wide with panic. “I don’t know how to fight.”  
“You don’t have to,” Sarah said sharply. “Just stay back and run if it gets too bad.”  
Evelyn stood her ground, her eyes never leaving the slavers. “Ready?”  
Sarah stepped forward, machete in hand. “Always.”  
The slavers spread out, circling them. One of them, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, grinned. “Thought you could outrun us, huh? Stupid kids.”  
Evelyn’s grip on her knife tightened. “You’ve made a mistake.”  
The man sneered. “The only mistake was thinking you could survive out here. You’re mine now.”  
The first slaver lunged, swinging a bat. Evelyn ducked, slashing with her knife. The blade cut through the air, grazing his arm. He hissed in pain but came at her again.  
Sarah swung her machete, cutting deep into the slaver’s side. He fell back, cursing, but Evelyn didn’t give him a chance to recover. She took another step forward, slashing with precise, controlled strikes.  
The forest was alive with the sounds of chaos, shouts, the sickening thud of flesh against metal, the rush of water.  
Liam stayed hidden behind a large rock, watching them fight. His eyes were wide, but his mouth was set in a firm line.  
Evelyn moved fast, dodging another swing from the scarred man. She slashed again, aiming for his throat.  
But the fight wasn’t over.  
More slavers were closing in.  
They were outnumbered. They needed a way out.  
Suddenly, one of the slavers shouted. “Don’t let them escape! They’re not getting away this time!”  
Evelyn’s heart raced. This was bad.  
Then, a loud crack echoed through the trees.  
A figure emerged from the shadows, a man, tall and heavily built, wielding a rifle.  
“Get down!” he shouted.  
Evelyn didn’t hesitate. She dropped to the ground, dragging Sarah and Anna with her.  
The slavers froze.  
The man stepped forward, his rifle aimed at them. “You’ve got a choice now. Leave, or I’ll make you.”  
Evelyn held her breath.  
The slavers didn’t move.  
The tall man’s voice was firm. “I’m not asking again.”  
The slavers slowly backed off.  
Evelyn watched them disappear into the trees, their retreat quick but reluctant. She didn’t trust that they were gone for good. But for now, they were safe.  
The man with the rifle lowered it and approached them. “You alright?”  
Evelyn nodded, still on edge. “Thanks.”  
The man gave a small, almost tired smile. “Name’s Eli. You should keep moving. Slavers aren’t the only thing out here.”  
Evelyn didn’t argue. “We’re heading west. You coming?”  
Eli shrugged. “Maybe. Depends on where you’re going.”  
Sarah stood up, wiping the blood from her machete. “We don’t have time to waste. The longer we stay, the more danger we’re in.”  
Eli looked around, his expression unreadable. “Fair enough. I’ll come with you for a while. But we need to move now.”  
Evelyn didn’t have to be told twice.  
They moved quickly, the forest closing in around them, and for the first time in what felt like days, Evelyn allowed herself to breathe just a little easier.  
But she knew this wasn’t over.  
It never was.