Ida's grip tightened around the gun as her gaze remained fixed on the direction the sound had come from.
Her expression slowly turned into one of seriousness as the unease in her chest grew heavier with each passing second. After a brief pause, she inhaled sharply before turning toward the children.
"Stay here," she said, her voice calm but firm, carrying a weight that made both Tina and Jack straighten slightly. "Don't move no matter what happens."
Tina looked up at her, her small brows furrowing as fear crept into her eyes, while Jack's posture stiffened, his gaze sharpening as he tried to remain composed despite the tension building around them.
"I'm going to check what that sound was," Ida continued, her tone calm, though the slight tightening of her fingers betrayed her concern, because she knew very well that the sound could mean the soldiers they had been waiting for had found them, or something far worse that they were not prepared to face.
