They continued south, the addition of Ben weighing heavily on their minds. The group’s supplies were already running low, and every decision they made felt more critical than the last.  
Ben kept his distance at first, walking quietly beside Leo. He didn’t ask for much, just the occasional glance from Sarah or Thomas, as though waiting for someone to tell him he didn’t belong.  
As they approached the edge of a dense forest, the air grew colder. Evelyn called a halt, and the group gathered near a cluster of fallen trees for a short break.  
“Water’s running low,” Sarah said, her voice tinged with concern. “We need to find a source soon, or we won’t make it much further.”  
Evelyn nodded, rubbing her eyes. “We’ll have to push through. The safe zone is still a day’s journey away. We can make it if we keep moving.”  
Ben spoke up from the edge of the group. “There’s a stream not far from here. If you want, I can show you.”  
Claire looked at him, suspicion still evident on her face. “How do you know?”  
Ben shifted uneasily. “I… I used to travel this way before everything went to hell. I remember the streams.”  
Evelyn glanced at Claire, then at the others. “We don’t have many options. Let’s go.”  
The forest grew thicker as they moved forward, the ground soft underfoot. Birds, once common, were few and far between, their calls replaced by the occasional rustling of unseen creatures.  
Ben led them in silence, occasionally glancing behind as though expecting someone to follow.  
It didn’t take long before they reached the stream, a small, clear river winding through the trees. The sound of the water was almost soothing, and Evelyn felt the weight on her chest ease slightly.  
“Looks clean,” Sarah said, kneeling beside the bank and testing the water.  
Evelyn nodded, signaling for everyone to drink. They refilled their bottles, their movements quick and efficient. But despite the moment of relief, the tension was never far behind.  
Once they were finished, Evelyn motioned for them to gather. “We can rest here for a bit. But we need to move again soon.”  
Ben looked at her, his eyes filled with a silent question. “How far are we from the safe zone?”  
Evelyn hesitated. “A day’s travel, if nothing goes wrong.”  
Ben’s shoulders slumped. “You don’t know how many times I’ve heard that before. A day’s travel, a few hours more, and then—”  
“You’ve been let down,” Claire finished for him. “We all have.”  
Ben nodded but didn’t respond.  
Evelyn stepped closer to him. “We’re doing the best we can. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but we’re not giving up. None of us.”  
He looked at her, his eyes softening. “I didn’t mean to—”  
“I know,” she said, cutting him off. “We all have our doubts. But this is the only chance we’ve got.”  
Ben gave a small, grateful nod.  
The group gathered their things and began to move again, the forest beginning to thin as they neared a clearing. But Evelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that their troubles were only just beginning.  
And as the shadows stretched longer with the setting sun, she knew that something was watching them.
As the group moved away from the stream, the sun began to dip lower in the sky. The woods were starting to feel more oppressive, the trees thicker, the shadows longer. It was as if the forest itself was closing in on them, and Evelyn could feel the weight of it pressing down on her chest.  
“Keep your eyes open,” she murmured to the others.  
Claire, walking ahead with Ben, glanced back but said nothing. The air felt different now, colder, heavier, and even the birds that had chirped earlier were quiet.  
“Something’s wrong,” Sarah muttered, keeping close to Thomas.  
Evelyn didn’t respond. She could feel it too. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she instinctively reached for the knife at her side.  
Leo tugged at her sleeve. “What’s wrong, Evelyn?”  
“Stay close,” she ordered, keeping her voice low.  
They walked on, the path now narrowing as they pushed deeper into the forest. A dense silence had settled over them, the only sound their footsteps crunching on the dry leaves beneath them.  
Then, a twig snapped.  
Everyone froze.  
Evelyn motioned for them to stop, her heart racing. The others didn’t move, but their gazes flicked around, trying to locate the source of the sound.  
Another crack.  
This time, it was closer.  
“Stay down,” Evelyn whispered.  
The group crouched low, instinctively hiding behind trees and large rocks. Ben’s hand clenched around a makeshift knife he had fashioned earlier, his eyes wide and searching.  
Evelyn peered through the trees, trying to make out any movement. She could feel her pulse in her ears, the tension building.  
And then, she saw it.  
A figure, barely visible among the branches, crouching low.  
“Not alone,” Claire muttered, her voice harsh.  
Evelyn nodded, her instincts screaming. They were being watched.  
“Stay still,” she whispered, signaling for them to remain hidden.  
The figure in the trees didn’t move for a long moment. But then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it was gone.  
Evelyn held her breath.  
She motioned for the group to move. Quietly. Swiftly.  
The forest was dense now, and they had to weave through it carefully, avoiding loud noises. But the feeling of being hunted never left. 
They didn’t stop again until the first stars began to dot the sky, signaling the approach of nightfall. It had been a long day, and exhaustion was beginning to show on everyone’s faces.  
Evelyn gathered them around a small clearing they’d found. “We’ll set up here for the night,” she said, her voice steady.  
Ben glanced nervously around. “I don’t like it here. We should keep moving.”  
Evelyn raised a hand to stop him. “We’re not moving anymore tonight. We’ll rest here. Watch the perimeter.”  
Everyone nodded, though the unease lingered in their eyes.  
They set up camp quickly, with Evelyn taking the first watch, keeping her eyes on the dark edge of the clearing. Every sound seemed to carry through the night, every rustle of leaves, every crack of wood.  
She wasn’t sure if it was the quiet or her nerves, but the silence in the forest was growing more oppressive. The group had set up camp near the edge of a cliff, with a good view of the surrounding area. But even with that advantage, Evelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that something was out there.  
“Evelyn,” Sarah said, breaking the silence.  
Evelyn glanced over at her. “What is it?”  
“I—” Sarah hesitated, glancing around nervously. “I thought I saw something out there. Moving.”  
Evelyn stood, gripping her rifle, her eyes scanning the shadows. She saw nothing.  
“I’m not sure,” Sarah continued. “It could have been a trick of the light.”  
Evelyn didn’t speak, her attention focused on the dark forest.  
Another snap.  
This time, it was unmistakable.  
“Stay quiet,” Evelyn ordered.  
Her fingers tightened around the rifle as she motioned for Sarah to move back behind the others. They had to stay in the center of camp, if anything attacked, they needed to be ready.  
But the hours dragged on, and nothing came. No more sounds, no more movement.  
Still, Evelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.  
The night passed slowly, but they made it to dawn without incident.  
Evelyn didn’t speak about the feeling she had, but she knew. They weren’t alone. And whoever or whatever was following them was patient.  
The group packed up and moved out as soon as the sun was fully up. They had no choice but to keep moving.  
But the question lingered: Who was out there, and what did they want?