CHAPTER ELEVEN

--Alyssa--

Another two whole days had passed, and everything felt quiet. The last tuna I had found was eaten, and I was getting thirsty. I hadn't heard the sound of footsteps since I went out two days ago. That silence made me brave, though it could have been a false sense of security.

Stepping outside to drink water and maybe hunt a little. The forest seemed clear, with the trees casting long shadows across the ground. I stepped out, wearing the old pants and shirt I found in the abandoned wardrobe. My clothes hung loose on me; they were not mine, but they did the job.

I was so tired that I could hardly sleep. A million thoughts raced through my mind, each one competing for attention. The uncertainty of my next move, the constant fear of being found—it all kept me on edge.

I walked to the stream, letting the soft rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds ease my nerves. The sound of the flowing water calmed me, and for a moment, I felt a small measure of peace.

After drinking