It hadn't been easy, but Harlan fought through dust, decay, and sheer stubborn resistance to finally get Asher into the cabin. Even after agreeing to step inside, Asher made the process unnecessarily difficult. At every patch of cobweb, every thin layer of dust, he would stop abruptly and refuse to take another step until Harlan cleared it away.
"Absolutely not," Asher would say, his nose wrinkling in distaste as he pointed at a corner. "Clean that first."
And so, with a tired groan, Harlan did.
Again and again.
He brushed aside webs, wiped surfaces with whatever scraps he could find, and kicked away debris until the air inside became at least somewhat breathable. It wasn't perfect—far from it—but it was manageable.
"Better," Asher finally said, stepping further in with caution, his eyes scanning every inch of the space like a critic searching for faults. "But this is only for one night. We are not staying here any longer than necessary."
Harlan nodded, too exhausted to argue.
