Chapter 52

SARAH'S POV:

The faint light of dawn began to seep through the cracks in the boarded-up windows, casting long shadows across the room each of us wrapped up in our own thoughts, fears, and strategies. Despite the exhaustion, my mind refused to shut down. Every creak of the old building, every distant sound outside kept me on edge.

I replayed the events of the past few hours in my mind, trying to piece together the puzzle that had become our reality. Joe's sudden reappearance, the ambush, the desperate escape – it all seemed surreal. Yet the smell of gunpowder still lingered in my nostrils, a stark reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond our temporary refuge.

Joe sat near the window, peering out through a small gap. His face was etched with concern, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something. Our confrontation earlier had left me with more questions than answers, and his evasiveness only deepened my suspicion.

I closed my eyes for a moment, allowing myself to b