Jaxon

I woke up to the faint sound of a scream and I panicked as I ran to check on Ashe and Janna. Janna was asleep but Ashe was not in her bed. My heart raced, and I could feel the cold sweat on my skin as I frantically searched the room. The shadows seemed to dance mockingly, making it difficult to see clearly.

I ran down the hallway, my mind racing with terrifying thoughts. Where could she be? Why wasn't she in her bed? The scream echoed in my ears, sending shivers down my spine.

I didn't want to wake up her parents, not yet. I ran downstairs to find the front door open, and I saw her footprints in the snow, so I followed them. The chill of the night air bit at my skin, but I barely noticed it, driven by the urgent need to find Ashe. Her small footprints led me across the yard and into the garden. Then I saw a set of bigger footprints, so I followed those, not sure if they took Ashe or not, but I had a feeling. The larger footprints mingled with hers, creating a path that led deeper into the darkness.

As I pressed on, the trees grew denser, their branches forming ominous shapes against the moonlight. My breath puffed out in clouds before me, matching the frantic rhythm of my heart. I tried to stay calm, but the fear gnawed at me, relentless.

I saw a small cabin and I heard a scream. As I ran faster towards it, the icy wind whipped against my face, each step crunching in the snow beneath me. The cabin's windows glowed faintly with an eerie light, and my heart pounded louder with each stride. I reached the door and hesitated for a moment, my hand trembling as I reached for the handle.

When I opened the door, the place was empty, but I knew someone was here; the back door was open, and I heard crying in a small room. My pulse quickened as I stepped inside, the floorboards creaking ominously under my weight. The dim light from the windows cast long shadows that seemed to shift and flicker as I moved forward.

The silence was heavy, broken only by the muffled sobs that guided me toward the source of the sound. I approached the small room cautiously, my breath shallow and my heart racing. The door was slightly ajar, and I pushed it open with trembling hands.

Inside, Ashe sat huddled in a corner, her face buried in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks. Relief washed over me at the sight of her, but it was quickly replaced by a surge of protective anger. Who had brought her here? Why was she so distraught?

"Ashe," I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion. "It's okay, I'm here now."

She looked up at me, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. "Jaxon," she whimpered, reaching out for me. I crossed the room in an instant, gathering her into my arms and holding her close.

"We need to get out of here," I said urgently, glancing around the room for any signs of danger. But before we could move, a shadowy figure appeared in the doorway, blocking our escape.

The figure stepped into the dim light, revealing a man with a cold, menacing glare. His presence exuded an aura of intimidation, and I felt Ashe's grip tighten around me.

"You shouldn't have come here," the man growled, his voice low and threatening. He took a step closer, and I instinctively positioned myself between him and Ashe.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through me. "Why is she here?"

The man smirked, his eyes glinting with a cruel amusement. "That's none of your concern. Leave now, and you won't get hurt."

I remember everything my dad taught me, everything PIGEON taught me. No way was I going to let him hurt Ashe. I picked her up and used my training to get us out of the cabin.

Without hesitation, I tightened my grip around Ashe and swiftly assessed our surroundings. The man's eyes narrowed as he realized I was not going to comply. His hand moved to his belt, but I was faster. Drawing on the combat skills ingrained in me, I pivoted, knocking the man off balance with a well-placed kick to his knee.

He stumbled, and I seized the moment. With Ashe securely in my arms, I sprinted towards the open window, the nearest point of escape. The man recovered quickly, lunging towards us with a snarl, but I was already halfway through the window, using my body to shield Ashe.

We tumbled out into the cool night air, hitting the ground with a thud. Pain shot through my shoulder, but I ignored it and pulled Ashe to her feet. We needed to keep moving. The shadowy figure reappeared at the window, shouting curses, but I didn't look back.

The dense forest loomed ahead, offering us a chance to disappear. My heart pounded, but my mind was clear and focused. I guided Ashe through the underbrush, our footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of leaves. The man's shouts grew fainter as we plunged deeper into the woods.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we reached a small clearing. I stopped, allowing us a moment to catch our breath. Ashe clung to me, her sobs subsiding into soft hiccups. I gently brushed her hair back and whispered, "We're safe now, Ashe. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

She nodded, her trust in me unwavering. We stood there, the stars above us and the threat behind us, knowing that we had escaped but still wary of the dangers that lay ahead.

I needed to get her home. Ignoring the pain in my shoulder, I picked her up and ran back towards her house. The forest was dense, but I navigated through it with practiced ease, driven by the urgency to get Ashe to safety. The moonlight barely filtered through the thick canopy, casting eerie shadows that danced around us.

Ashe clung to me, her small frame trembling but her grip firm, a silent testament to her trust. My breaths were ragged, each step sending jolts of pain through my body, but I couldn't stop. The need to protect her overpowered any discomfort.

Finally, the trees began to thin, and the familiar outline of Ashe's house came into view. Relief washed over me, but I kept my pace steady until we were safely inside. I gently set her down and locked the door behind us, ensuring no one could follow.

Ashe looked up at me, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and gratitude. I knelt down, cupping her face in my hands. "You're home now," I reassured her. "You're safe."

She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I was so scared," she whispered.

"I know," I said softly, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "But you're brave, Ashe. And I'm here. Nothing's going to happen to you."

As she clung to me, I allowed myself a moment to breathe, to let the tension ease from my muscles. The night had been harrowing, but we had made it. The danger was behind us, at least for now.

I stayed with her until she fell asleep, the events of the night finally catching up to her. Once I was sure she was resting peacefully, I quietly slipped out of her room. The adrenaline had worn off, and the pain in my shoulder flared up anew. I winced, but the sight of Ashe sleeping soundly gave me the strength to push through it.

I knew the man might still be out there, but for tonight, we were safe. And that was enough.