The smell of roasted rabbit hung in the air as Terri sat across from Hale, watching him turn the meat slowly over the fire.
The flames crackled between them, steady and quiet, the only real sound in the middle of the woods. Night had settled in fully, wrapping everything in darkness beyond the small circle of light the fire gave them.
They had been running for hours before this.
Running, hiding, doubling back.
Hale had not said much since they got away. He had just kept moving until he decided they were far enough. Then he hunted. Then he made a fire.
And Terri sat there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Doing nothing.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the piece of cooked rabbit in her hand. Her stomach was empty, aching, but something about eating felt…wrong.
Hale had done everything.
Again.
"Eat."
His voice cut through her thoughts, flat and direct.
