Page 34 of The One that Got Away

“It’s getting too dark to see,” Oliver said.

Lisa could sense the desperation in his voice.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I can’t seem to find the way to the cabin.”

“What does that mean? We need to get to it,” she whispered.

After what felt like an eternity but was likely only minutes, Lisa spotted a rocky outcrop ahead. With a tug on Oliver’s hand, she veered toward it, the outline of a hidden cave coming into view.

“This will do,” she whispered.

Heart pounding, she ushered everyone inside, the darkness enveloping them like a protective shroud.

They huddled together, the cave’s damp walls offering scant comfort against the chill. Oliver set Daniel down, affectionately ruffling the boy’s messy dark hair, trying to inject a sense of normalcy into the fraught situation.

"Good hiding spot," he murmured, his voice a low rumble in the compact space.

Lisa pulled her children closer, wrapping them in an embrace that was both a shield and a reassurance. Ava sat beside them, her eyes reflecting the flicker of fear and resolve that Lisa knew mirrored her own.

Oliver used his phone’s light so they could see.

Lisa met his gaze, her warm smile a silent promise amidst the uncertainty. They were a team, bound by something stronger than fear—love and a shared will to survive. They were momentarily untouchable in this hidden crevice of the world, their hearts beating a collective rhythm of hope and courage.

They sat like that until just after midnight, when they suddenly heard voices coming from outside the cave.

The echo of their ragged breaths filled the cave as Lisa's mind whirred with strategic precision. The voices were coming closer, the sound bouncing against the tree trunks, yet they were still distant.

"We need a distraction," she whispered, her voice steady despite the tremor of fear that quivered through her limbs. Her eyes met Oliver's, finding an unspoken agreement there.

"Flares," Oliver responded, nodding at the pack he'd managed to grab before they fled. He pulled two bright red cylinders out, a fisherman's survival tool. "It could work. It'll draw their eyes—and hopefully them—long enough for you all to get a head start."

Lisa's heart clenched at the thought of separation, but she knew it was their best shot. She nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line of resolve.

"Take the west route toward the creek," he instructed Ava, who listened intently. "Follow it downstream until you see the three pines shaped like a 'W.' That's where we'll meet. Use my phone as a flashlight."

Oliver knelt before their children, his eyes soft but fierce. "Listen to Ava, okay? Mom and I have to make sure those bad guys don't follow you." His words were simple, yet they carried the weight of promises and the strength of his will.

Ava clasped Lisa's hand briefly, her eyes offering silent support, before turning to gather Daniel in her arms. The child’s innocent gaze flitted between the adults, sensing the gravity of farewell without understanding its full context.

"Be brave, my loves," Lisa murmured, pressing a kiss to each of her children's foreheads, her hair falling like a curtain around their huddle. Oliver's arm encircled them all for one fleeting moment—a bastion in a stormy sea.

"Remember, Dad loves you more than all the stars in the sky," Oliver said, his voice catching on the swell of emotions. His hands were gentle as they brushed away the worry lines from their young faces.

"I will be right there," Lisa added, her smile wavering like a candle flame in the wind. She tucked the memory of their embrace deep within her heart, fuel for the trials ahead.

With great care, they untangled themselves from the embrace and stood, facing the mouth of the cave. Lisa's hand found Oliver's, their fingers locking together in silent unity. They both peered into the thickening darkness outside, where the unknown loomed.

"Go now, quickly and quietly," Lisa urged, her voice a soft command. As Ava ushered the children into the shadows of the trees, Lisa released Oliver's hand, feeling the lingering warmth like a promise.

"See you soon," she said, forcing confidence into her tone.

Lisa watched them disappear into the forest, her chest tight with love and fear. Then, turning back to Oliver, she felt the adrenaline surge.

"Ready?" Oliver asked, his gaze locked onto hers.

"Ready," Lisa answered. Together, they stepped forward, ready to face whatever came next with the courage of those who fight not just for survival but for love.

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