As the days went on, Jack found himself unable to shake the feeling that something was off in Refuge. It was more than the murmurs of residents or the tense glances exchanged between guards; it was in the way patrols seemed haphazard, with stretches of the walls left unattended for hours. Small things that might have gone unnoticed to anyone else—but not to Jack.

He watched from a distance as a minor scuffle broke out among two guards at the eastern gate, their voices sharp in the quiet evening air. He couldn’t make out the words, but their tone was enough. In another area near the market, a small fire flared up, causing people to scatter in alarm. It was quickly doused, but Jack saw the fear ripple through the crowd, their eyes darting around as if they half-expected someone to leap from the shadows.

“Sabotage,” Jack muttered under his breath, his jaw clenched. He couldn’t shake the suspicion that someone was working to destabilize Refuge, eroding its sense of safety one small incident at a time. It was exactly the kind of psychological warfare he’d expected from Magnus, and though he’d tried to warn the council, his concerns had fallen on deaf ears.

Nearby, Ezra sidled up to him, his gaze wary as he followed Jack’s line of sight. “You think it’s him? The Sanctified?”

Jack nodded grimly. “Yeah. And he’s just getting started. It won’t be long before people start losing faith in Refuge. That’s what Magnus wants—he’ll break them down before he even sets foot inside.”

Ezra’s face tightened, a look of unease crossing his features. “If he really is here… if he’s already inside, then it’s only a matter of time.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed as he watched the fire die down, the murmurs of the crowd finally beginning to fade. “Then we’ll be ready.”

Meanwhile, Sam and Lila had found a quiet spot along the outskirts of Refuge, away from the buzz of the market and the tension that seemed to hang over the settlement. They sat on a low wall, the rolling hills visible beyond the walls, a reminder of the vast, unforgiving world that waited outside.

Sam studied Lila’s face as she gazed out over the land, her eyes thoughtful, her expression almost too mature for her years. It struck him, suddenly, how much she’d grown up since the world had collapsed. She was no longer the little girl who’d clung to him, asking questions he didn’t know how to answer. She was a young woman now, hardened by the wasteland but somehow still holding onto a softness he couldn’t fathom.

“Do you remember it?” he asked softly. “Life before… all this?”

Lila turned to him, her face softening. “Bits and pieces. I remember Mom, mostly. Little things. How she used to sing when she cooked, or how she’d read to me at night. But a lot of it’s… fuzzy. Like it’s there, but just out of reach.”

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Sam’s throat tightened, a familiar ache settling in his chest. “I know. Some days, I wish you didn’t have to remember. I wish… I wish you didn’t have to see what the world’s become.”

Lila placed a hand on his, her gaze steady. “Dad, I wouldn’t have made it without you. And I know it’s been… horrible. But we’re still here. That counts for something, right?”

He managed a small smile, nodding. “Yeah, kiddo. It counts for a lot.”

They fell into a comfortable silence, watching as people moved through Refuge in quiet clusters. A few children ran by, laughing as they chased each other through the dirt, their voices bright against the low hum of conversation. Sam’s gaze lingered on them, a pang of longing tugging at his heart. He wanted that for Lila—the chance to be a kid, to live without fear. But out here, it felt like a luxury they’d never afford.

“Sometimes I wonder if it’s fair to hope for more,” he murmured, almost to himself. “If it’s fair to want a future for you that’s… normal.”

Lila gave him a wry smile, her eyes shining with a rare warmth. “I think I’d settle for ‘safe’ over ‘normal.’ But I know what you mean. I want it too. I just don’t know if that kind of life even exists anymore.”

They sat there, the weight of their conversation heavy between them. Sam looked at her, struck by the strength she carried, a strength that had only deepened with each hardship they’d faced. She’d become his anchor, just as much as he’d been hers. He didn’t know how he’d have made it this far without her.

“I know I don’t say it enough, but… I’m proud of you, Lila,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You’ve been through so much, and yet here you are, still… still you.”

Lila smiled, a small, resilient smile that lit up her face. “Guess I had a good example to follow.”

They sat together, the quiet stretching between them, a peaceful moment in a world that seldom allowed it. But even as they shared that silence, Sam couldn’t ignore the unease simmering in the air, the tension that seemed to cling to Refuge like a shadow. He knew Jack was right to be cautious. And as much as he wanted to believe they’d found a safe haven here, something told him their peace wouldn’t last.

“I just want you to know,” Lila said, her voice soft but steady, “whatever happens, I’m with you. We’ll face it together, okay?”

Sam nodded, his heart swelling with pride and a fierce protectiveness he hadn’t felt in years. “Together,” he promised, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

They watched the sun sink lower on the horizon, a sense of calm settling over them, despite the unease that lingered. Sam didn’t know what the future held, but he knew one thing—he would do everything in his power to protect Lila, to give her the chance to live, to hope. And whatever it took, he wouldn’t let her down.

As the shadows lengthened and the first stars appeared in the sky, Refuge seemed to settle into its usual rhythm. But Jack knew better. He watched from the edges, his eyes sharp, his instincts keenly aware of every sound, every movement.

The Sanctified were coming. He could feel it, a storm gathering on the horizon, and he knew he had to be ready. Not just for himself, but for Sam, for Lila, and for everyone within these walls who believed in a life beyond fear.

And as he stood there, watching over the people who had come to mean more to him than he’d thought possible, Jack made a silent vow. Whatever it took, he would hold this place. For Sam. For Lila. For the family he’d found in the midst of ruin.

Because sometimes, hope was all they had.