Chapter 21

The morning sunlight filtered through the cracks in the barn's walls, casting golden beams over the hay-strewn floor. Miel stirred awake, blinking against the light. Jasmine was still curled up next to her, their shared blanket draped loosely over her shoulders. Maxwell lay at their feet, already awake and alert, his head lifted as if on watch.Miel carefully shifted out from under the blanket, trying not to disturb Jasmine. She stretched, her muscles sore from the hard ground, and made her way to the small window at the side of the barn. The farm beyond was quiet, the distant fields rolling in a soft breeze. There was a strange serenity in the stillness, as if the chaos of their past days had paused for just a moment.She could feel the tension in her chest ease slightly, though she knew better than to let her guard down completely. They still had a meeting to arrange, still had to plan their next move. But for now, the peace was welcome.Behind her, Jasmine stirred, mumbling softly as she woke. Miel turned to find her rubbing her eyes, a small frown of confusion crossing her face as she oriented herself to the unfamiliar surroundings."Morning," Miel said quietly, walking back to sit beside her.Jasmine blinked a few times before giving a half-smile. "Morning. Did you sleep?"Miel shrugged. "A little. You?""Better than I thought I would," Jasmine replied, though her voice still carried the weight of everything on her mind.They sat in silence for a moment, the soft sounds of the farm outside filling the space between them. Maxwell trotted over, nudging Jasmine's hand with his nose, and she absentmindedly scratched behind his ears."What's the plan?" Jasmine asked, finally breaking the quiet.Miel glanced at the barn door, where the sliver of sunlight grew brighter as the day wore on. "We wait for Claire. She said it'd take a day or two to arrange the meeting with her contact. Once we have a new vehicle, we figure out where we're going next."Jasmine nodded, though Miel could see the weariness in her eyes. They were both worn thin from the constant pressure of their situation, but there was no room to stop, no space to let it all catch up to them. Not yet.Miel stood and walked over to their bags, rummaging through them until she found the small stash of food they had left. She pulled out two granola bars and tossed one to Jasmine, who caught it with a tired but grateful smile."We'll be alright," Miel said, more for her own reassurance than anything. "We've made it this far."Jasmine bit into the granola bar and nodded in agreement, but neither of them said more. Words couldn't solve the problems they were facing. Only action could.---The day passed slowly, the minutes ticking by with agonizing patience. Miel and Jasmine kept a low profile, staying within the barn and only stepping out occasionally to stretch their legs or let Maxwell roam around for a bit. The quiet of the farm was both a comfort and a reminder of how fragile their safety was. All it would take was one wrong move, one suspicious glance, and everything could unravel.By the time the sun began to set, the barn was filled with the deep orange glow of twilight. Miel was pacing, her nerves buzzing with anticipation. Claire hadn't come by all day, and the longer they waited, the more restless she became.Jasmine sat against a bale of hay, absentmindedly watching Maxwell chase after a stray bug that had wandered into the barn. Her calmness was a contrast to Miel's anxiety, but Miel knew her well enough to recognize the underlying tension.As if on cue, the sound of footsteps approaching the barn made both of them freeze. Miel instinctively moved toward the small table where they had stashed Simon's gun, but she stopped when she recognized Claire's voice calling out softly from outside."It's me," Claire said, pushing the barn door open slightly and stepping inside. She glanced around, taking in the scene before her. "Hope I didn't startle you."Jasmine stood, brushing off her pants, while Miel remained tense, though she relaxed her grip on the gun."You have news?" Miel asked, her voice clipped with urgency.Claire nodded, closing the door behind her. "I made the call. My contact can meet you tonight. You'll need to leave soon—he doesn't like to wait.""Where?" Jasmine asked, standing beside Miel now."There's an old service station about ten miles down the road from here," Claire said, her tone efficient. "It's out of use, but he'll meet you there. You bring the cash, he'll bring the car."Miel felt a flicker of hope flare up in her chest. It wasn't much, but it was the start of a way out. "We're ready," she said.Claire eyed them both carefully. "Be careful," she warned. "He's reliable, but don't mistake that for trust. He'll do the job, but that's all it is to him—a job."Miel nodded, understanding the implications. "We'll keep it professional."With a final glance toward Jasmine, Claire gave a tight-lipped smile. "Good luck."---The service station loomed ahead of them as the night stretched on, the silhouette of the crumbling building standing stark against the dark sky. Miel drove in silence, her focus sharp as her hands gripped the steering wheel. Jasmine sat beside her, her posture tense but steady. Maxwell was curled up in the backseat, his usual restlessness subdued by the weight of the moment.The station looked abandoned, just as Claire had said. The sign above it was barely legible, the paint peeling and faded from years of neglect. The windows were boarded up, and the lot was empty, save for a few stray pieces of trash that fluttered in the breeze.Miel pulled the car to a stop near the edge of the lot, her eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. They were early, but she didn't mind that. It gave them time to assess the situation, to make sure everything was in place.Jasmine shifted in her seat, her eyes flicking toward the rearview mirror. "Do you think he's already here?"Miel shook her head. "Not yet. But he'll show."They waited in silence, the minutes dragging by. Miel's heart pounded in her chest, the anticipation coiling tight in her gut. This was it. If they got this car, they could disappear for good. No more hiding in barns, no more running in the middle of the night.Finally, a pair of headlights appeared in the distance, growing brighter as a car approached the service station. Miel's breath hitched, and she felt Jasmine tense beside her. The car—a dark SUV—pulled into the lot, stopping a few feet away from them.The driver's door opened, and a tall man stepped out. He was dressed in dark clothes, his face shadowed by the brim of a baseball cap. He didn't speak as he approached them, his steps slow and measured.Miel glanced at Jasmine before opening her door and stepping out of the car. The man's eyes flicked toward her, then toward Jasmine, who had also exited the vehicle. His gaze was unreadable, but there was a certain coldness in the way he carried himself."You're the ones Claire sent?" he asked, his voice low and gravelly.Miel nodded. "That's right."He looked them over once more before gesturing toward the SUV. "The car's in the back. Cash first."Jasmine reached into the backseat, grabbing the duffel bag of money, and handed it to the man. He unzipped it, rifling through the contents before giving a satisfied nod. Without another word, he motioned for them to follow him.---The car he led them to wasn't anything special—an old sedan, nondescript and in decent enough shape to blend in anywhere. But that was exactly what they needed. Nothing flashy, nothing that would draw attention.Miel ran her hand along the side of the car, inspecting it briefly before turning to the man. "It'll do."The man tossed her the keys, his expression as neutral as ever. "Take care of yourselves," he said before turning and heading back to his SUV without another word.As the SUV's headlights disappeared into the night, Miel and Jasmine exchanged a glance. There was no celebration, no sense of triumph—just the quiet understanding that this was another step forward."Let's go," Miel said, climbing into the driver's seat of the sedan.Jasmine settled into the passenger seat, and Maxwell jumped into the back, curling up once again. As Miel started the engine and pulled out of the lot, the road stretched out before them, dark and empty.The future was still uncertain, but for now, they had a car, and they had each other.And for the first time in a long while, that felt like enough.