Chapter
202
The cabin came into view as the late afternoon sun dipped below the horizon. It was a sturdy structure of weathered wood, tucked against the slope of the mountain. Smoke curled from the chimney, a promise of warmth inside. Matthew led the children up the creaking steps, opening the door to reveal a cozy interior. A stone fireplace crackled with flames, casting a soft orange glow over the mismatched furniture and stacks of books scattered across the room. "Home sweet home," Matthew said, setting his pack down.
The children hesitated at the threshold. The girl clung to the boy, her silver hair catching the firelight.
"It's alright," Matthew said, gesturing them inside. "You're safe here."
They stepped in cautiously, their eyes darting around the room. The boy's posture remained guarded, his shoulders tense as if ready to defend the girl at any moment.
"Names?" Matthew asked, kneeling to their level.
The children exchanged a glance, then shook their heads.
Matthew frowned. "Nothing? Not even what to call you?"
He noticed bracelets on their wrists, tarnished and scratched but still intact. The girl's had an inscription: Elyra. The boy's read Dain.
"Well," Matthew said with a small smile, "those will do just fine. Elyra and Dain it is."
Elyra stared at him, her golden eyes unreadable. Dain remained silent, though his stance relaxed slightly.noveldrama
Matthew stood, clapping his hands. "Let's get you fed and cleaned up."
As the night wore on, the children ate quietly at the table, their behavior subdued. Matthew noted their oddities their sharp hearing, the way they seemed to sense his movements before he made them. He tried not to pry, but curiosity tugged at him. Later, as the children lay curled on the old couch, fast asleep, Matthew sat by the fire, his rifle leaning against the wall beside him.
A sound from outside snapped him to attention-a low, guttural growl that seemed to echo from the forest. Matthew's grip tightened on the rifle as he rose, moving silently to the window. The moonlight cast long shadows across the trees, but nothing stirred. Still, the sensation of being watched was undeniable.
He glanced back at the children. Elyra had shifted in her sleep, her silver hair glinting like the moon itself.
Matthew took a deep breath, his unease growing. Something was out there, and it was watching them.