Beyond the Pack’s Law: My stepsister or nobody else

Aiden’s POV

The nearing footfalls resonated like a funeral bell in the crowded nook. Each time a boot hit the hard floor, it sent chills down my back. Alessa leaned into me, her fear evident. Ethan stood at the front, his wide body providing some protection, but his rigid stance revealed his concern.

The voices approached closer, getting louder with every passing moment. I could identify Aunt Jada’s irritated, sharp tone.

“She must be in this vicinity,” she snapped. “Scatter around and locate them!”

Fear gripped my throat. We found ourselves trapped. If they discovered our location, it would be impossible to predict their actions. I quickly looked at Alessa, who had wide eyes filled with fear. Our eyes briefly connected, silently recognizing the peril we faced.

All of a sudden, a loud noise echoed down the hallway. We all jumped, surprised by the sudden noise.

“What’s that sound?” Aunt Jada asked firmly.

“The old building seems to have finally reached the end of its days,” a rough voice responded.

“Fantastic,” Aunt Jada snapped. “Exactly what was necessary.”

Feet shuffled, then a curse was muttered in frustration.

Another voice joined in, saying that it seems like the way is obstructed. “It appears to be a partial collapse.”

I felt a rush of relief come over me. A sudden breakdown! This could be our way to escape from this place.

“Screw it all!” Aunt Jada growled. Discover a different entrance. “We cannot abandon them there.”

“Who should I leave?” A fresh voice, brimming with doubt.

Aunt Jada snapped, “Don’t worry about it.” Simply discover an alternative route.

The noise of footsteps moving away gradually decreased in the distance. We stayed close together without speaking, waiting anxiously to confirm their departure.

“Do they…?” Alessa murmured, her voice barely discernible.

Ethan extended his arm and touched his lips with a finger, gesturing for us to be silent. He timidly glanced around the corner, his expression serious.

After a prolonged period, he verified their absence. However, they will return. “We have to relocate.”

He assisted Alessa in getting out of the alcove before he faced me.

“Are you okay to go for a walk, Aiden?”

Despite my throbbing head, the surge of adrenaline kept me moving forward. “Yeah, I can.”

We walked behind Ethan through the dim hallway, with only the sound of my uneven breathing interrupting the quiet. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, and I sensed the invisible gaze of eyes observing us from the darkness.

“Where are we headed to?” I inquired, speaking softly.

Ethan provided an explanation about an empty ventilation shaft located a couple of sections away. “It’s a bit cramped, but it should guide us to the path through the forest.”

“Awesome,” I muttered, not particularly excited about the idea of squeezing through a dirty air duct. Getting caught by Aunt Jada was worse than anything else.

We eventually arrived at the opening of the pit. It was a tiny, metallic gap, just large enough for a person to fit through.

Ethan pointed to Alessa, saying, “Women go first.”

“I’m not sure,” she paused, fear evident in her voice. “It appears… like a tight space.”

Ethan comforted her by saying, “Everything will be okay.” “Simply come with me, and I will lead you to safety.”

Alessa drew in a deep breath and forced her way through the opening. She let out a muted grunt before falling silent.

Aiden, you’re up next,” Ethan whispered quietly.

“Okay,” I murmured, preparing myself for the challenge. Taking a deep breath, I pushed my way through the opening.

The metal rubbed on my skin, causing me to cough as dust entered my lungs.

The area was small, making it difficult for me to move my arms. Relying solely on Ethan’s voice to guide me, I advanced blindly through the darkness.

“Close,” he said, his voice reverberating in the small area.

“Thank goodness,” I croaked, sensing claustrophobia beginning to take hold of me.

At last, after what seemed like an endless amount of time, the entrance in front of us expanded. Ethan extended his hand and helped me up, both of us landing heavily on the unforgiving floor.

Taking in deep breaths, I felt thankful for my release from the narrowness of the shaft. Beside me was Alessa, her face red and her hair dirty.

“We arrived,” she said, with a trembling smile on her face.

“Wait a moment,” Ethan warned, his forehead creased as he looked at his phone. “We’re still quite far from the borders of the group. We must locate a place to conceal ourselves until it gets dark.”

Alessa timidly mentioned a hunting cabin located approximately one mile to the north. “It’s deserted; however, it should offer some protection.”

“Great idea,” Ethan responded, shifting his eyes back and forth between us. “Aiden, do you believe you can handle that distance?”

A dull ache pounded in my head, while fatigue ate away at my energy. “I must,” I forced out through clenched teeth, rising to stand. “Hayley requires my assistance.”

Ethan’s expression briefly showed worry, but he just nodded. “Okay, time to start moving.”

We started our journey through the thick vegetation, feeling surrounded by the darkness of the forest. The atmosphere was filled with the sounds of crickets chirping and owls hooting, familiar noises that usually brought comfort but now only served to increase my feelings of unease.

Each sound of leaves rustling and each twig snapping made me feel a chill down my back. I couldn’t get rid of the sense that we were being observed and that Aunt Jada’s associates were closely following us.

“Do you believe that they are aware that we have fled?” I murmured to Ethan, my voice almost drowned out by the noises of the forest.

“It could happen,” he responded with a somber tone. “They will probably be looking for an alternative entrance to the tunnels.”

“What if they discover it?” Alessa inquired, her voice tinged with anxiety.

Ethan remained silent. He continued forward, speeding up as we moved further into the forest.

We spent what felt like hours stumbling through the darkness. I was feeling exhausted, and my eyesight started to blur on the periphery. Right as I believed I could go no further, Ethan came to a sudden stop.

“We have arrived,” he declared, his voice barely audible.

I felt a brief moment of relief. The idea of discovering a safe haven and finally being able to relax inspired a fresh wave of energy.

We walked behind Ethan as he led us through a gap in the trees, revealing a gloomy, run-down cabin. It appeared as though no one had touched it in a very long time, with boarded-up windows and peeling paint on the decaying wood.

“Not very welcoming,” Alessa whispered softly, noting the lack of appeal.

“It is not a luxurious hotel,” Ethan replied in a curt manner. “However, it will suffice for the time being.”

He approached the cabin carefully and tested the door. We were surprised to find that it opened with a rusty groan.

Ethan whispered, “Seems like we’re in luck today,” as he pushed the door open further.

Upon entering the room, we were met with the musty scent of dust and mildew. The inside was dim and dirty; cobwebs hung over the visible beams of the ceiling. A cracked window allowed a small beam of moonlight to filter in, creating long, eerie shadows.

“Inside doesn’t seem much better,” Alessa whispered softly.

Ethan mentioned that there may be old blankets and various items at the rear of the cabin, with his voice reverberating throughout the empty space. “Sufficient for us to make it through the evening.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

He vanished into the shadows, leaving Alessa and me alone in the middle of the room. A disturbing quiet fell upon us, only interrupted by the sound of our labored breathing.

Out of nowhere, there was a loud BANG coming from outside, followed by a chilling scream. I felt my heart jump into my throat, and a rush of fear engulfed me.

“What was that noise?” Alessa screamed, her voice filled with fear.

We both hurried towards the shattered window, gazing out into the darkness. However, the only thing we observed were the moving shadows of the trees, illuminated by the faint moonlight.

“Ethan!” he exclaimed. My voice reverberated in the night as I shouted out.

There was silence. Nothing but a disturbing quietness lingered in the atmosphere, brimming with a chilling feeling of unease.