The cabin was small, tucked into the heart of the dense forest, hidden from view like a forgotten secret. Its walls creaked under the weight of time, its windows dark and quiet, offering no glimpse of the world beyond. The air inside smelled of damp earth, pine, and the faint scent of old wood, carrying a chill that settled into Eden's bones.
Eden stood by the doorway, his fingers brushing the rough edges of the wooden frame. He felt it with the same reverence he gave to everything—his need to know, to make sense of the space around him, to gather whatever information his senses could provide. Yet, despite everything, the silence of the cabin made him feel small. Alone.
He could still hear the faint echoes of the forest outside—the low hum of insects, the distant rustling of trees swaying in the wind. But it wasn't enough to mask the panic stirring within him. Every breath felt shallow, his heart thudding erratically in his chest as he tried to control the rush of fear threatening to drown him.
"Stay quiet," the servant girl whispered, her voice sharp but low. She had been calm up until now, but Eden could hear the subtle tremor in her words. "We can't risk them hearing us."
Eden nodded, though she couldn't see it. His fingers clenched around the edges of the doorframe, grounding himself with the familiar texture of the wood. His mind swirled with thoughts of Darian. The Prince. Eden's stomach twisted at the thought. The memory of Darian's touch, so gentle and cruel all at once, sent a shudder through him.
He didn't want to think about him. Not now. Not here.
And yet, he couldn't stop it. The ache of longing, the pull that Darian had planted deep inside him—it didn't fade just because Eden had escaped the Prince's grasp. In fact, it felt stronger now, like a storm just waiting to break.
The servant girl crouched down beside him, her voice close now. "Don't worry," she whispered. "You're safe for now. I'll keep watch. Just stay here."
Eden wanted to protest, wanted to tell her he wasn't afraid of hiding, but something in the way she said "safe" made him question everything. Could he truly be safe? Could anyone really be safe from someone like Darian?
Eden's mind raced. He was free, yes, but only for as long as the Prince's reach didn't find him. The weight of that truth pressed down on him. He could hear the wind rustling through the trees outside, the soft crackle of leaves shifting underfoot. But every sound, every breath, seemed like a warning. The world felt too still, too fragile.
"Will they find us?" Eden's voice came out as a whisper, though the question held so much more—fear, uncertainty, confusion.
The servant girl's response was quiet, her voice tense. "I don't know. But we need to stay quiet, Eden. We can't risk it."
Her words echoed in his mind as he sank further into the room, unable to shake the feeling of being trapped. The wooden walls of the cabin felt like a cage, the air too tight. He needed to know more. He needed to feel more.
"Why are you helping me?" Eden blurted out before he could stop himself. He hadn't meant to ask it aloud, but the question had been gnawing at him since she first helped him escape.
The girl didn't respond immediately. Eden felt her shift beside him, her posture rigid, as though she were weighing the answer carefully. When she did speak, it was in a quiet, guarded tone.
"Because I know what it's like to be trapped. To be controlled." She paused. "I was once where you are, Eden. But now... I'm free. And I won't let them do the same to you."
Eden's breath hitched. The weight of her words settled heavily over him, and for a moment, he could do nothing but absorb them. She had been trapped too. She had known the kind of pain, the kind of fear that Eden had known—of being under the Prince's control, of being owned.
But what did freedom mean if it was only temporary? Darian's men would come. They would search every inch of this forest until they found him.
"Can we really escape him?" Eden whispered, more to himself than to the girl. "Can I really escape him?"
The girl's voice softened. "You can. But you need to trust me."
Eden's heart skipped a beat. Trust. It was such a fragile thing. Trust had been something he had given Darian so freely, only for it to be shattered into pieces. But now, in this strange place, with the servant girl's quiet determination, he wanted to believe her. He wanted to trust her. But the fear... the fear of being hunted, of being found, it gnawed at him.
Before he could say anything more, the girl stood abruptly, her boots scraping against the floor as she moved toward the window. Eden could hear the soft sound of her hands moving over the panes, adjusting them as she peered outside.
"I'll go gather supplies," she said, her voice steady. "You stay here."
Eden could hear the hesitation in her words, the uncertainty that lingered despite her attempt to remain calm. He stood from his place near the door, his fingers trailing along the rough walls as he tried to gauge the distance. He could tell she was leaving, but there was a sense of urgency in her steps now—hastier than before, as if she knew something was coming.
A chill ran through him, and he could hear it—the unmistakable sound of hooves in the distance. The thudding of horses, their hooves striking the ground, their riders nearing. Eden's pulse quickened as his body froze.
"They're here," he whispered, his voice trembling.
The girl's face went pale, and for the first time, Eden sensed the weight of her fear. She turned to him quickly, her eyes wide, her expression hardening with determination.
"Stay here," she ordered, though her voice betrayed the urgency of her words. "I'll go out the back. If they find you, they'll—"
"I know what they'll do." Eden's voice was raw, his heart pounding in his ears. The thought of Darian's men finding him was enough to turn his stomach.
She didn't argue. She moved quickly, her steps muffled as she disappeared out of the cabin.
And then, silence again.
Eden remained motionless, listening, waiting. Every second felt like an eternity. His mind raced with conflicting thoughts. The sound of the horses grew louder, and his body tensed in anticipation. He couldn't remain hidden forever. But if Darian found him... Eden's breath caught in his throat. He couldn't go back. Not now.
But as much as he feared Darian's men, a part of him—a part of him he couldn't ignore—still longed for the Prince.
And that thought was a knife to his heart.