Chapter 11

The footsteps stopped outside the door, and Isaac heard the sound of a boot kicking at the wood. The door shuddered, the handle jiggling as the hunters attempted to force it open. The girl whispered a quick incantation under her breath, her eyes fixed firmly on the door.

The door shook once again, the lock holding strong. Isaac could hear muttered curses from outside, the hunters clearly frustrated at the barrier holding them back. The girl's expression remained stoic, her gaze unwavering.

The hunters continued their efforts, pounding on the door and ramming into it with their shoulders. The cabin was well built, and the door didn't budge, but the sound of their efforts was becoming increasingly more frantic. The girl seemed unfazed by the hunters' attempts to break in, her stance still calm and unruffled. "They're trying to brute force their way in," she said, her voice steady. "But they can't get past the protection spell."

Isaac shifted, his body tense with anticipation. "How long do you think they'll keep trying?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. The sound of the hunters' assaults on the door was becoming increasingly louder and more aggressive.

"Hard to say," the girl replied, her eyes tracking the sound of the hunters' movements outside. "They're persistent, I'll give them that. But they won't get past the spell. At least not for a while." As if on cue, the sounds of the hunters outside abruptly stopped. Isaac tensed, his ears straining to hear the next move. He could feel his pulse quickening, the tension in the cabin palpable.

The girl relaxed slightly, a small sigh escaping her lips. "They've moved back," she said quietly, her gaze still fixed on the door. "Probably regrouping and formulating a new plan." The cabin fell into an eerie silence, the only sound the steady crackle of the fireplace. Isaac could feel his heart pounding in his chest, his senses hyper-aware of every small shift in the air. He glanced at the girl, her face now taut with tension. Something was about to happen.

As if on cue, the silence was shattered by a loud crash. The hunters had returned, the sound of metal against wood echoing in the air. The girl's eyes darkened, her expression becoming more intense. She turned towards the fireplace, picking up a sharp-looking steel poker.