Chapter 26

Katie's POV

As we got closer, I could see that the figure was a man, wearing ragged clothing and carrying a large backpack. He looked like he had been living off the land for a long time.

"Please, we need your help," I pleaded, hoping that he would be willing to assist us.

The man looked us up and down, assessing the situation. "What happened to you folks?" he asked gruffly.

"We're being chased by some dangerous people," Alex explained. "We need to get as far away from here as possible."

The man nodded, seemingly understanding the gravity of the situation. "I might be able to help you," he said. "But it won't be easy."

We didn't have any other options, so we followed the man as he led us into the forest, away from the road. He seemed to know where he was going, and we trusted that he had our best interests at heart.

As we walked deeper into the woods, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. Every rustle in the bushes, every snap of a twig, made my heart race. But we k