Our boots crunched softly over dead leaves, the sound too loud in the quiet woods. Every step felt like an announcement. Like we were daring something to notice us.
Aubrey walked beside me, a few paces behind Hale and the other two from camp.
The space between us was thick. Heavy. We didn't look at each other. Not once. My eyes stayed forward, tracking the sway of branches, the gaps between trees. Hers stayed fixed somewhere else— anywhere but me.
The forest smelled damp and old. Rot and pine and something faintly metallic beneath it all. My fingers flexed around the rifle strap, nerves buzzing just under my skin.
Silence stretched.
Too long.
I broke it first.
"So…"
The word came out rougher than I meant. I shifted the rifle higher on my shoulder, leather creaking softly. "That note, huh?"
She didn't respond.
I swallowed and pushed on. "What did you mean by it?"
Her steps slowed. Then stopped.
I stopped too.
