Chapter 47 Fractures In The Night

• Sophia's pulse surged, her senses sharpening as she and Ethan jerked apart, their breath visible in the cold night air. The crackling noise echoed through the forest, sinister in the eerie quiet that followed. Her eyes darted to Ethan's, and in that instant, they both knew the moment they'd shared was gone—replaced by the harsh reality of survival.
• "Inside," Ethan whispered urgently, gripping Sophia’s arm. His voice was a mixture of tenderness and command, his protective instincts flaring. “Now.”
• They hurried back into the cabin. Sophia’s mind raced as she moved quietly, her eyes adjusting to the dim light within. Ethan immediately went for the handgun he had placed on the nearby table, his movements quick and calculated. Sophia glanced at Lily, still asleep but twitching uncomfortably as if some part of her sensed the tension in the air.