Chapter 8 - The Cabin in the Pines
Three hundred miles away, the mountain air was crisp, biting, and thick with the scent of pine needles and damp earth.
The autonomous transit pod glided to a smooth, hydraulic halt inside a hidden concrete bunker carved directly into the bedrock of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The heavy steel doors above groaned as they parted, letting in the cool midnight breeze and the sound of rustling branches under a canopy of thick stars.
"We're here, Ruby. Wake up, sweetie," Claire whispered gently, shaking her daughter’s shoulder.
Ruby stirred, her big eyes blinking open as she looked around the dimly lit stone shelter. "Mom? Where are we? Where’s Mr. Graves?"
"We're somewhere safe," Claire said, though her own heart was hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. She scooped Ruby into her arms, stepping out of the pod and onto the concrete floor of the bunker.
A set of stone stairs led upward toward a heavy wooden cabin nestled deep within the dense forest. The interior lights of the cabin flickered to life automatically as the satellite phone in Claire’s hand transmitted her biometric signature to the smart-home system. Inside, a warm stone fireplace crackled with pre-set logs, casting a golden, comforting glow across the rustic oak furniture, a cozy kitchen, and a small bedroom with a neatly made quilt on the bed.
Claire set Ruby down on the sofa, her hands trembling so badly she could barely hold the satellite phone. She dropped down beside the glowing hearth, trying to warm her frozen fingers, her mind racing with a terrifying thought: What is happening in Aldridge right now?
"Mom, I’m hungry," Ruby said quietly, pulling her knees up to her chest.
"I know, baby. Let's see what’s in the pantry," Claire forced a reassuring smile, standing up and walking over to the small kitchen. To her astonishment, the refrigerator was fully stocked with fresh groceries, milk, and fruit, as if someone had known they were coming weeks in advance.
As Claire heated a pot of soup on the stove, the encrypted satellite phone on the wooden dining table suddenly vibrated violently. A harsh, electronic chime rang out through the quiet cabin.
Claire froze. Her breath caught in her throat. She slowly walked over to the table, staring down at the screen.
An incoming video call was flashing in bold red text: GRAVES - SECURE UPLINK.
May you like
With a shaking thumb, Claire pressed the accept button.
The screen flickered, and the video feed stabilized. But it wasn't Nathaniel’s face looking back at her.
