Chapter 5: The Road Ahead

The road stretched out in front of us, a seemingly endless ribbon of cracked asphalt and crumbling concrete. The truck's tires rumbled over the uneven surface, the occasional jolt reminding us of just how fragile our newfound sense of safety really was. The world outside was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos we'd left behind at the campus. It felt like we were driving through a ghost town, the once-familiar streets now abandoned, the buildings looming like silent sentinels over a world that had gone to hell.

Raven was behind the wheel, her expression focused and intense as she navigated the truck through the desolate streets. Marcy sat in the passenger seat, her hands gripping the dashboard as she scanned the surroundings for any signs of movement. I was in the back, my eyes darting between the side mirrors and the rearview, half-expecting to see a horde of goblins or hellhounds barreling down on us at any moment.

But so far, the road was empty. It was almost too quiet, and that made me uneasy.

"We need to find a gas station," Raven said, breaking the silence that had settled over us. "This thing won't get us far without fuel."

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me from the backseat. "Good idea. We should also look for supplies, food, water, anything useful."

Marcy glanced over at Raven, her expression concerned. "Do you think it's safe to stop? What if those things are still out there?"

Raven didn't take her eyes off the road. "We don't have a choice. If we don't find fuel, we're going to be stranded in the middle of nowhere. We'll just have to be careful."

It wasn't exactly comforting, but I knew she was right. We couldn't afford to keep driving aimlessly. Eventually, we'd run out of gas, and then we'd be sitting ducks. The thought made my stomach churn with unease, but I pushed it aside. There was no time for fear, not now.

As we drove, I found myself staring out the window, taking in the desolation that had overtaken the city. The buildings were abandoned, many of them with broken windows and doors hanging off their hinges. Cars were left haphazardly in the streets, some with their doors wide open, as if their occupants had fled in a hurry. The occasional flicker of movement caught my eye, but every time I turned to look, there was nothing there, just shadows dancing in the corners of my vision.

It felt like the world had been emptied out, leaving only the three of us to pick through the ruins.

We drove in silence for what felt like hours, though it was probably only a few minutes, before we finally spotted a gas station up ahead. It was a small, rundown place, the kind of place you'd only stop at if you were desperate. But desperate was exactly what we were.

"There," Raven said, pointing to the station. "We'll stop there. Stay alert."

Marcy and I nodded, our senses on high alert as Raven pulled the truck into the gas station's parking lot. The place looked abandoned, the windows boarded up and the pumps covered in a thick layer of grime. But there was no sign of movement, no goblins, no hellhounds, nothing.

"Looks clear," I said, though I didn't let my guard down.

"Let's keep it that way," Raven replied as she cut the engine. "Nana, stay with the car. George and I will check the pumps and the shop."

Marcy looked like she wanted to argue, but she nodded and stayed put, her eyes wide as she watched us climb out of the truck. I gripped my metal pipe tightly, my heart pounding as I scanned the area for any signs of danger. But everything was still, the only sound the faint rustle of the wind.

Raven moved quickly to the nearest pump, inspecting it for any signs of life. I followed her, my eyes darting around the lot, half-expecting something to leap out at us from the shadows.

"It's got fuel," Raven said, her voice tense with concentration. "But we'll need to manually pump it."

I nodded, relieved that we wouldn't have to search for another station. "I'll keep watch while you fill up."

Raven nodded, and I took up a position near the front of the truck, my eyes scanning the street for any signs of movement. The longer I stood there, the more uneasy I felt. The silence was oppressive, like the world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

I kept glancing back at Marcy, who was sitting in the passenger seat, her hands clenched into fists in her lap. She was scared, I could see it in her eyes, but she was holding it together. We all were. But for how long?

As Raven worked the pump, the sound of the gasoline sloshing into the tank was loud in the stillness. It felt like a beacon, drawing attention to our location, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.

"Anything?" Raven asked, her voice low as she kept her focus on the pump.

"Nothing yet," I replied, my voice just as quiet. "But we should hurry."

She didn't argue. The fuel gauge on the truck's dashboard slowly crept upward as the tank filled, and I could feel my nerves fraying with each passing second. I kept expecting something, anything, to burst out of the shadows and attack us. But the minutes ticked by, and nothing happened.

Finally, the pump clicked off, signaling that the tank was full. Raven quickly replaced the nozzle and wiped her hands on her pants, nodding to me.

"Let's get out of here," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

I didn't need to be told twice. We both hurried back to the truck, where Marcy was anxiously waiting. As soon as we climbed in, Raven started the engine, and we pulled out of the gas station, leaving the eerie silence behind.

As we drove away, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. We'd made it, no attacks, no monsters, just a quick pit stop. But the tension in my chest didn't ease. If anything, it got worse. Because I knew that this quiet, this stillness, couldn't last. Sooner or later, the world would come crashing down on us again.

"Good job back there," Marcy said, breaking the silence as she looked at Raven. "I was so scared something was going to jump out at us."

Raven gave her a small, tight smile. "Me too. But we got what we needed. That's what counts."

I nodded, though I didn't say anything. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being hunted, that those goblins, or something else, was out there, waiting for the right moment to strike. And I wasn't sure we'd be lucky enough to get away a second time.

As the truck rumbled down the road, I found myself staring out the window, my mind drifting back to everything we'd seen and done since the portals opened. It felt like a lifetime ago, but it had only been a day. A single day, and the world was already unrecognizable.

The city was behind us now, the buildings giving way to open fields and rolling hills. The landscape was beautiful, in a haunting sort of way, the vibrant greens and yellows of the grass contrasting sharply with the dark, swirling sky above. It was like we were driving through a painting, a surreal, twisted version of the world we once knew.

"We should find a place to stop for the night," Marcy said after a while, her voice breaking the silence. "We can't keep driving forever."

"Agreed," Raven replied, glancing at the fuel gauge. "We've got enough gas to keep going for a few more hours, but we'll need to find shelter before it gets dark."

I nodded, though the idea of stopping for the night made me uneasy. The open road felt safer somehow, even though I knew that was just an illusion. The creatures we'd seen, goblins, hellhounds, whatever else was out there, they weren't bound by any rules. They could find us just as easily on the road as they could in a building. But at least in a building, we could fortify, defend ourselves.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape, we finally spotted a small town up ahead. It was nestled in a valley, surrounded by trees and hills, the kind of place you'd expect to find in a postcard.

"There," Raven said, pointing to the town. "We'll stop there for the night. Find somewhere we can hole up and rest."

Marcy and I both nodded, and Raven steered the truck off the main road, following the winding path that led into the town. As we got closer, I couldn't help but notice how quiet it was. There were no signs of life, no people, no animals, nothing. Just empty streets and darkened windows.

"It's like everyone just disappeared," Marcy whispered, her voice laced with unease.

"Maybe they did," Raven replied, her tone flat. "Or maybe they didn't get the chance."

Despite the growing dread, we couldn't afford to dwell on what had happened to the people who once lived here. We needed to focus on finding a place to stay, somewhere we could secure ourselves for the night.

Raven drove slowly through the town, the truck's headlights cutting through the growing darkness. The buildings were a mix of small shops and houses, all of them looking as if they'd been abandoned in a hurry. Some of the windows were broken, the doors hanging open, but there was no sign of any recent activity, no movement, no light, no sound.

"There," I said, pointing to a building near the center of town. It was a two-story structure made of brick, with narrow windows and a heavy wooden door. A sign above the door read "Sal's General Store" in faded letters. "That looks solid enough."

Raven nodded, pulling the truck up to the curb. "Let's check it out. If it's clear, we'll set up camp inside."

We got out of the vehicle, and I immediately felt a chill in the air. The town was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made your skin crawl. I gripped the metal pipe tightly as we approached the door, my senses on high alert.

Raven tested the door handle and found it unlocked. She exchanged a glance with me, then pushed the door open, stepping inside with her crowbar ready. I followed close behind, with Marcy bringing up the rear.

The interior of the store was dark, lit only by the faint light filtering in through the dirty windows. Dust motes hung in the air, and the smell of old wood and stale air filled my nostrils. The shelves were still stocked with various goods, canned food, bottled water, basic supplies, all covered in a thin layer of dust.

"It looks like it's been untouched for a while," Marcy whispered, her voice echoing slightly in the quiet space.

"Let's keep it that way," Raven replied, moving further into the store. She checked the back rooms and the small office upstairs, making sure there were no unwanted surprises waiting for us. When she returned, she nodded, indicating that the place was clear.

"This'll do," she said, setting her crowbar down on the counter. "We'll barricade the doors and windows, make sure nothing can get in."

Marcy and I set to work, dragging over some of the heavier shelves to block the front door and covering the windows with anything we could find, old planks of wood, metal sheets, whatever was lying around. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do.

As we worked, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The silence outside was oppressive, and every creak of the building, every whisper of wind, set my nerves on edge. I kept glancing at the windows, half-expecting to see something, some shadowy figure or pair of glowing eyes staring back at me.

"George, you okay?" Marcy asked, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts.

I realized I'd been standing still, staring out one of the boarded-up windows for who knows how long. I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of anxiety that had settled over me.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, forcing a smile. "Just… tired."

She nodded, though she didn't look convinced. "We all are. But we'll be okay. We've made it this far, right?"

"Right," I said, though I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince her or myself.

Once we'd finished securing the store, we gathered in the middle of the main room, surrounded by shelves stocked with goods we could only dream of in the chaos that had become our world. It was a strange feeling, sitting there, surrounded by the trappings of a life that now seemed so distant, so impossible.

"We should take inventory," Raven said, her practical mind always a step ahead. "Figure out what we have, what we need, and what we can take with us when we move on."

Marcy nodded, her expression determined. "I'll start with the food and water. George, you want to help?"

"Sure," I replied, eager to have something to do to take my mind off the creeping sense of dread that had been gnawing at me since we'd arrived.

We spent the next hour or so going through the store, counting cans and bottles, organizing supplies, and making sure we had everything we needed for the night. It was a monotonous task, but it was exactly what we needed, a way to ground ourselves, to keep our minds focused on something other than the horrors outside.

By the time we were finished, we had a decent stockpile of food, water, and basic medical supplies. It wasn't much, but it was more than we'd had before, and that was something.

"We'll take shifts again tonight," Raven said as we settled down on the floor, using our backpacks as makeshift pillows. "I'll go first."

Marcy and I both nodded, too tired to argue. The day had been long, the weight of everything we'd been through pressing down on us like a heavy blanket. I closed my eyes, hoping that sleep would come quickly, but my mind wouldn't shut off. It kept replaying the events of the day, the quiet town, the empty streets, the sense of being watched.

After what felt like hours, I finally drifted off, though my sleep was restless, filled with dark dreams and the constant fear that something was about to go horribly wrong.

I woke with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon filtering in through the cracks in the boards covering the windows. For a moment, I wasn't sure what had woken me, just that familiar sense of unease, that nagging feeling that something was wrong.

I glanced around, trying to get my bearings. Raven was still on watch, her silhouette barely visible as she stood near the door, her crowbar in hand. Marcy was asleep beside me, her breathing slow and steady.

Everything seemed normal, but that didn't ease the knot of tension in my stomach.

I pushed myself up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I tried to shake off the lingering dread that had followed me out of my dreams. Something was bothering me, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"Raven," I whispered, getting to my feet and moving toward her. "Everything okay?"

She didn't answer right away, her eyes still fixed on the door. "I don't know," she said finally, her voice low. "I keep hearing things. Outside. It could just be the wind, but…"

I nodded, feeling the same unease. "Do you want to switch? I'm awake now. You should get some rest."

Raven hesitated, clearly torn between her need for sleep and her instinct to stay on guard. Finally, she nodded, though her expression remained tense. "Alright. But wake me if anything happens. Anything."

"I will," I promised, taking her place by the door.

She gave me a small nod and moved to the spot I'd vacated, settling down with her crowbar close at hand. It wasn't long before her breathing slowed, and I knew she'd fallen asleep.

I stood there in the dark, listening to the faint sounds outside. The wind was picking up, rustling the trees and causing the old building to creak and groan. But there was something else, a soft, almost imperceptible sound, like footsteps on gravel.

I tensed, my grip tightening on the metal pipe as I strained to hear. The sound was faint, barely audible over the wind, but it was there. And it was getting closer.

My heart pounded in my chest as I moved to one of the boarded-up windows, trying to peer through the cracks. The moonlight cast eerie shadows across the ground outside, making it difficult to see anything clearly. But as I squinted through the darkness, I saw something, a figure moving between the buildings, keeping to the shadows.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, backing away from the window.

I considered waking Raven, but I hesitated. If it was just one person, we could handle it. We didn't want to make noise, not until we knew exactly what we were dealing with. If there were more out there, we couldn't afford to alert them all.

Taking a deep breath, I moved quietly toward the door, gripping the pipe tightly. The footsteps were louder now, and I could hear the crunch of gravel underfoot, the subtle sound of something, or someone, moving closer.

I pressed my ear to the door, listening intently. The footsteps stopped just outside, and for a moment, there was only silence. My heart was hammering in my chest, and I could feel a bead of sweat trickling down my forehead.

Then, without warning, the door rattled violently, as if something had slammed into it. I jumped back, nearly dropping the pipe as the door shook on its hinges. Raven was instantly awake, on her feet with the crowbar raised.

"What the hell was that?" Marcy whispered, sitting up with wide eyes.

"I don't know," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "But I think we've got company."

The door rattled again, harder this time, and I could hear a low, guttural growl coming from the other side. My blood ran cold as the growl was joined by another, and then another.

"They found us," Raven said, her voice tight with fear and determination. "We need to get out of here, now."

My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the door, which was now shaking violently under the assault of whatever was outside. The growls were growing louder, more insistent, and I knew we didn't have much time before they broke through.

"Back door," I said quickly, my mind racing. "There's a back door in the storeroom. We can sneak out before they get in."

Raven nodded, already moving toward the back of the store. "Marcy, grab the supplies. George, cover our exit."

Marcy scrambled to her feet, quickly stuffing the food and water we'd gathered into her backpack. I tightened my grip on the metal pipe, trying to steady my breathing as I backed away from the front door. The growls were now accompanied by the sound of claws scraping against the wood, and I knew we were seconds away from whatever was out there breaking through.

"Hurry!" I hissed, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Marcy shouldered her backpack, her face pale with fear, and followed Raven into the storeroom. I took one last look at the barricaded front door, then turned and ran after them.

The storeroom was small and cluttered, filled with boxes of old inventory and supplies. The back door was a heavy metal one, bolted from the inside. Raven was already there, her crowbar in hand as she worked to slide the bolt back.

"Come on, come on…" she muttered, her movements frantic.

I glanced back toward the front of the store, expecting to see the door give way at any second. The growls were louder now, joined by the sound of something heavy slamming against the barricade. My stomach twisted with fear, whatever was out there, it was big. Bigger than the goblins.

"Got it!" Raven said, her voice triumphant as the bolt finally slid free.

She yanked the door open, revealing a narrow alleyway that ran behind the store. It was dark and cramped, the walls of the neighboring buildings looming overhead, but it was our only way out.

"Go!" Raven ordered, motioning for us to move.

Marcy darted through the door first, with me right behind her. Raven was the last to leave, pulling the door shut behind us as quietly as she could. The alley was silent, the sounds of the creatures inside the store muffled by the thick brick walls. But I knew they'd be on us soon if we didn't move fast.

"Which way?" Marcy whispered, her voice trembling.

Raven glanced both ways down the alley, her eyes narrowing as she tried to determine the safest route. "This way," she said finally, pointing to the left. "It leads back to the main road. If we can get to the truck, we can get out of here."

We moved quickly, the narrow alley forcing us to stay in single file. The walls were close enough that I could touch them with both hands, and the air was thick with the smell of damp earth and decay. It felt like a tomb, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being funneled into a trap.

As we reached the end of the alley, Raven slowed, holding up a hand to signal us to stop. She peeked around the corner, her body tense and ready to spring into action.

"Clear," she whispered, motioning for us to follow.

We slipped out of the alley and onto the main road, the darkened buildings looming around us like silent sentinels. The truck was parked a few yards away, the only vehicle in sight. The street was eerily quiet, the only sound the distant rustle of the wind.

But just as we thought we were in the clear, a low, menacing growl echoed from the shadows behind us. I turned, my blood running cold as I saw them, dark shapes emerging from the alley, their eyes glowing with a feral light.

Hellhounds.

"Run!" Raven shouted, grabbing Marcy's arm and pulling her toward the truck.

I didn't need to be told twice. I sprinted after them, my heart pounding in my chest as the hellhounds charged out of the alley, their massive bodies moving with terrifying speed. The truck was so close, but it felt like it was miles away.

Raven reached the driver's side door first, fumbling with the keys as she tried to unlock it. Marcy was right behind her, yanking open the passenger door and diving inside. I could hear the snarls of the hellhounds getting closer, the sound of their claws scraping against the pavement as they closed the distance.

"Come on, come on!" I shouted, my voice rising in panic.

Finally, Raven got the door open and jumped inside, slamming the key into the ignition. The engine roared to life just as I reached the back door, yanking it open and throwing myself inside.

"Go, go, go!" I screamed, slamming the door shut behind me.

Raven didn't need any more encouragement. She floored the gas, the tires squealing as the truck lurched forward. The hellhounds were right on us, their snarls filling the air as they gave chase. I could see them in the rearview mirror, their glowing eyes locked onto us with a terrifying intensity.

"Faster!" Marcy cried, her voice laced with fear.

Raven gritted her teeth, her knuckles white as she gripped the steering wheel. The truck barreled down the street, the buildings flashing by in a blur as we raced to put as much distance between us and the hellhounds as possible. But they were fast, too fast, and I could see them gaining on us, their powerful legs propelling them forward with an almost supernatural speed.

"They're getting closer!" I shouted, my voice cracking with panic.

"I'm going as fast as I can!" Raven snapped, her eyes flicking between the road ahead and the hellhounds behind us.

The truck hit a bump in the road, jolting us all in our seats. I grabbed onto the door handle, my heart in my throat as we careened around a corner, the hellhounds still hot on our heels.

"We need to lose them!" Marcy cried, her voice rising in fear.

"I'm trying!" Raven shot back, her voice tense.

Raven pushed her foot to the floor and I could hear the old engine struggling to accelerate. The speedometer read 95mph and was slowly moving to 100mph. We must have been reaching the truck's max speed.

As we sped down a narrow side street, I noticed something up ahead, a small bridge that crossed over a deep ravine. The bridge was old and rickety, the kind of thing you'd see in an old horror movie. But it was our only chance.

"Head for the bridge!" I shouted, pointing it out to Raven.

She didn't hesitate. She veered the truck toward the bridge, the hellhounds still closing in on us. As we hit the bridge, the old wood creaked ominously beneath the weight of the truck, but Raven didn't slow down.

"Hold on!" she yelled, her voice barely audible over the roar of the engine.

We hit the center of the bridge, and I could feel it swaying beneath us, the ancient wood groaning in protest. The hellhounds were right behind us now, their snarls filling the air as they closed the gap.

"Come on, come on…" I muttered under my breath, praying the bridge would hold.

Just as we reached the other side, I heard a loud crack, one of the support beams had given way. The bridge started to collapse behind us, the wooden planks falling away into the ravine below.

The hellhounds were too close to stop. The first one reached the collapsing bridge, its massive body crashing through the weakened planks and disappearing into the darkness below. The others followed, their snarls turning into terrified yelps as they tumbled into the ravine, swallowed up by the void.

The truck roared off the other side of the bridge, leaving the collapsing structure behind us. For a few heart-pounding moments, there was only silence, the road ahead, the darkened trees, the sound of our ragged breathing.

Then, finally, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. We were alive. We'd made it.

"Is everyone okay?" Raven asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Marcy nodded, her face pale but determined. "Yeah. I'm okay."

I nodded too, though I couldn't quite find the words to speak. My mind was still reeling from the adrenaline, the fear, the sheer insanity of what we'd just survived.

Raven slowed the truck to a more manageable speed, her eyes still scanning the road ahead. "We can't stay on the main roads," she said, her voice steady despite the lingering tension. "We need to find somewhere else to hole up, somewhere they won't find us."

"Agreed," I said, finally finding my voice. "But where? We can't keep running forever."

Raven was silent for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "There's an old cabin up in the hills, about an hour's drive from here. It's isolated, away from the towns. It might be safe."

Marcy looked at her, surprised. "How do you know about it?"

Raven hesitated, then sighed. "Pappy told me about it. How you two would go up there on the weekends to get away. It's off the grid, no one else knows about it. It's not much, but it's our best bet."

It wasn't the most comforting option, but at this point, we didn't have many choices. "Let's do it," I said, glancing at Marcy for her agreement.

She nodded, her expression resolute. "She's right, it's secluded and might still have some food left in the basement freezer."

Raven didn't waste any time. She turned the truck off the main road, guiding us onto a narrow dirt path that wound through the thick forest. The road was rough, full of potholes and overgrown with weeds, but the truck handled it well enough. The trees loomed overhead, their branches swaying gently in the breeze, casting long, eerie shadows that danced in the headlights.

The further we drove, the more isolated we became. The forest closed in around us, the only sounds the crunch of gravel under the tires and the occasional rustle of leaves. The night was dark, the moon obscured by thick clouds, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were driving into the unknown, into a place where the rules of the old world no longer applied.

"Almost there," Raven said after what felt like an eternity, though in reality, it had only been about an hour. The tension in her voice had eased slightly, but she was still on edge, her eyes constantly scanning the road ahead.

I peered out the window, trying to make out any landmarks in the darkness. But all I could see were trees, thick and impenetrable, like a wall of shadow that surrounded us on all sides. The path was narrow, barely wide enough for the truck, and I could tell by the way Raven was gripping the steering wheel that she was as nervous as I was.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the cabin came into view. It was small, nestled among the trees at the end of the path, with a sloping roof and a stone chimney that looked like it hadn't been used in years. The windows were dark, the wooden walls weathered and covered in moss. It looked like the kind of place you'd see in a horror movie, the last refuge before something terrible happened.

But right now, it was the safest place we could hope for.

"This is it," Raven said, pulling the truck to a stop in front of the cabin. "Home sweet home."

We got out of the truck, our movements slow and weary. The air was cooler up here, the wind rustling the leaves in a way that sent shivers down my spine. I could hear the distant call of an owl, the soft hoot echoing through the trees, but otherwise, the forest was silent.

Raven led the way to the front door, her crowbar at the ready. She tested the handle, and to my surprise, it swung open easily, the old hinges creaking in protest.

"That's weird, the door's open." she said quietly, stepping inside.

The interior of the cabin was dark and musty, the air thick with the scent of wood and dust. The furniture was old, covered in sheets that had yellowed with age. A stone fireplace dominated one wall, and a small kitchen area was tucked into the corner, complete with a rusty stove and a wooden table.

"It's not much," Raven said, setting down her crowbar, "but it's safe."

Marcy looked around, her expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. "It's perfect," she said, her voice soft. "Thank you, honey."

Raven just nodded, her face unreadable. "Let's get settled in. We'll need to secure the place before we rest."

We spent the next hour or so checking the cabin, making sure all the windows and doors were locked and secure. There wasn't much to barricade, just the front and back doors, along with a few small windows, but it was enough to give us some peace of mind.

Once we were satisfied that the cabin was as secure as it could be, we gathered in the main room, sitting around the stone fireplace. Raven had found some old firewood stacked outside, and she set to work building a small fire, the warmth and light a welcome comfort after the long, cold drive.

As the flames crackled and danced, we finally allowed ourselves to relax, if only a little. The cabin, though old and worn, felt like a fortress in the middle of the wilderness, a place where we could finally catch our breath.

"We made it," Marcy said, her voice barely more than a whisper. She was sitting on the floor, her back against the couch, her eyes half-closed as she stared into the fire. "We actually made it."

"For now," Raven replied, though her tone was less harsh than usual. She was sitting on the edge of a worn armchair, her crowbar resting across her knees. "But we're not out of the woods yet. We need to stay alert."

I nodded, though I couldn't help but feel a small flicker of hope. The hellhounds were behind us, the cabin was secure, and for the first time since the portals had opened, I felt like we might actually have a chance.

"We'll take shifts again tonight," Raven continued, her gaze sweeping over the room. "I'll go first."

"Raven," I said, my voice firmer than I expected. "You've been taking the first watch every night. Let me do it this time."

She looked at me, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Alright. But wake me if you hear anything."

"I will," I promised.

Marcy had already drifted off to sleep, her head resting on the arm of the couch. Raven watched her for a moment, her expression softening, she grabbed a thick blanket from the other couch and draped it over her. Then she stood and walked over to one of the other armchairs, settling down with her crowbar within arm's reach.

"Goodnight, George," she said quietly.

"Goodnight, Raven."

As they both drifted off to sleep, I took my place by the window, the firelight casting long shadows across the wooden floor. The cabin was quiet, the only sounds the crackle of the fire and the occasional creak of the old wood. Outside, the wind rustled the leaves, but there was no sign of the hellhounds or any other creatures.

For the first time in what felt like days, I allowed myself to relax, if only for a moment. I leaned against the windowsill, staring out into the dark forest beyond. The night was still, the trees swaying gently in the breeze, the stars barely visible through the thick canopy.

But even as I tried to enjoy the peace, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was out there, something watching, waiting. I tightened my grip on the metal pipe, my senses on high alert, and kept my eyes on the darkness beyond the cabin walls.

The night dragged on, and as the fire slowly died down, the shadows grew longer, more menacing. My mind played tricks on me, turning every rustle of leaves, every creak of wood, into the sound of approaching danger. But nothing came. The night passed in tense, uneasy silence.

When the first light of dawn finally broke through the trees, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. The world outside was still and quiet, the danger that had haunted us through the night seemingly gone, at least for now.

I turned back to the fire, which had burned down to glowing embers, and gently shook Raven awake. She blinked up at me, her expression still groggy from sleep.

"Anything?" she asked, her voice thick with exhaustion.

I shook my head. "Nothing. It was quiet all night."

She nodded, slowly sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Good. We'll get a few more hours of rest, then figure out our next move."

I agreed, but even as I sat down by the dying fire, I couldn't help but wonder what the day would bring. The cabin had given us a brief reprieve, a place to regroup and gather our strength, but it wasn't a permanent solution. We couldn't stay here forever. Eventually, we'd have to keep moving, keep fighting, keep surviving.

But for now, at least, we had made it through another night.

As I sat there, staring into the embers, I realized that the road ahead was still uncertain, still filled with dangers we couldn't even begin to imagine. But we had each other, and as long as we stuck together, I knew we had a chance. A chance to survive, a chance to find others, a chance to fight back against whatever had torn our world apart.

And with that thought, I finally allowed myself to close my eyes, just for a moment, and drift off to sleep.