Chapter 20

The air in the barn was still, the only sound being the occasional rustling of hay as Maxwell shifted in his sleep. Miel lay on her back, staring up at the wooden beams of the ceiling, her mind racing despite the exhaustion that weighed on her body. Next to her, Jasmine's breathing was steady, but Miel could feel the tension radiating from her even in sleep.The barn felt safe for now, but Miel's gut told her that their time here was short. Claire had been generous in offering them a place to hide, but she had made it clear that this was a temporary solution. The police would eventually spread their search farther, and if Simon's past had taught her anything, it was that running only delayed the inevitable.The sky outside was beginning to lighten, the faint pre-dawn glow seeping through the cracks in the barn walls. Miel closed her eyes, trying to push away the weight of their situation, but the knot in her stomach tightened with each passing minute.A soft rustle came from beside her, and Miel opened her eyes to find Jasmine sitting up, her knees pulled to her chest. She didn't say anything, but the look on her face said enough."You couldn't sleep either, huh?" Miel whispered, sitting up next to her.Jasmine shook her head. "Every time I close my eyes, all I can think about is what's coming next. How long can we keep running before we run out of places to hide?"Miel reached out, placing a comforting hand on Jasmine's back. "I don't know," she admitted. "But we'll figure it out. We always do."Jasmine sighed, leaning her head against Miel's shoulder. "I'm tired, Miel. I'm so tired of running. I just want... I want us to have a normal life. To not have to look over our shoulders all the time."Miel's heart ached at Jasmine's words. She wanted the same thing. But in the back of her mind, she knew that 'normal' had never really been an option for them. Not after everything they'd done, the choices they'd made. They were in too deep now."We'll get through this," Miel said softly, her words as much a reassurance for herself as they were for Jasmine.Jasmine didn't respond, but her hand found Miel's, their fingers intertwining in a silent show of solidarity. For a few moments, they sat together in the quiet, the weight of their reality pressing down on them but finding solace in each other's presence.---Later that morning, Claire came to check on them. She stood in the doorway of the barn, her sharp eyes scanning the space before settling on Miel and Jasmine, who were sitting on the makeshift bed they'd created with blankets."You both look like you've seen better days," Claire remarked, her tone matter-of-fact but not unkind.Miel gave a small shrug. "We've had a rough few weeks."Claire's lips quirked into a brief smile. "I imagine so. Simon filled me in a bit, though I didn't ask for details. I try to keep myself out of other people's business."Jasmine stood up, brushing hay from her clothes. "We appreciate the help, Claire. Really. We're just trying to figure out our next step."Claire nodded, walking farther into the barn. "I don't have much to offer, but I know someone who might be able to help you with transportation. He's... well, let's just say he deals in things that people don't ask too many questions about."Miel's interest piqued. "Transportation?"Claire crossed her arms, leaning against one of the barn's support beams. "If you're serious about getting out of here, you'll need something reliable. Something that won't raise any red flags. I can arrange a meeting, but it'll cost you.""We can handle it," Jasmine said quickly, glancing at Miel for confirmation.Miel nodded. "We've got the funds. How soon can we meet him?"Claire considered this for a moment. "I'll make the call. Shouldn't take more than a day or two to set something up.""Thank you," Jasmine said sincerely. "We really appreciate it."Claire gave a curt nod, pushing herself off the beam. "Don't thank me yet. Just stay out of sight until I get everything sorted. This place might be safe for now, but you don't want to attract any unwanted attention."With that, Claire left the barn, the door creaking shut behind her.Miel let out a slow breath, her mind spinning with possibilities. If Claire's contact could get them a new vehicle, something untraceable, they might have a real chance to disappear for good. But the thought of another escape, another round of running, weighed heavily on her.Jasmine sat back down beside her, her eyes scanning Miel's face. "What are you thinking?"Miel hesitated, her hand reaching for Jasmine's. "I'm thinking about how tired I am of this life. How much I want to stop running."Jasmine's brow furrowed. "Do you think... Do you think we ever will? Stop running, I mean?"Miel didn't have an answer. She squeezed Jasmine's hand instead, the silence between them speaking louder than words.---By the time night fell, the barn was cold, the temperature dropping as the sun disappeared beyond the trees. Miel wrapped a blanket around herself and Jasmine, the two of them huddled together for warmth. Maxwell was curled up in the hay nearby, his snores a small comfort in the otherwise silent barn.They had done everything they could to prepare for what lay ahead. Now, it was just a waiting game.Jasmine's head rested against Miel's shoulder, her breathing slow and steady as she finally succumbed to sleep. Miel, however, couldn't shut off her mind. Every noise outside the barn, every creak of wood or rustle of leaves, set her on edge. She kept her hand close to the gun that Simon had given them, her nerves wound tight as a spring.But nothing happened. The hours passed, and the quiet remained.Eventually, Miel's eyes grew heavy, and she allowed herself to drift off, her thoughts fading as sleep finally took her.Tomorrow would bring its own challenges. But for tonight, they had a roof over their heads, and they had each other.