Chapter 3

Augie's world went dark, his body crumpling to the ground. Maya's voice echoed through his mind, her words indistinguishable.

He felt himself being lifted, his body weightless. Maya's grip on his waist tightened, her fingers digging deep into his skin.

Augie winced, his body screaming in protest. He tried to speak, tried to move, but his limbs felt heavy, his voice caught in his throat.

Maya's voice echoed through his mind, her words soft and soothing. "It's okay, Augie. I've got you."

Augie's eyes fluttered open, his gaze locking onto Maya's face. Her eyes were narrowed, her jaw clenched.

"Where are we?" Augie asked, his voice barely audible.

Maya's gaze snapped to his face, her eyes softening. "We're safe," she said, her voice firm.

Augie's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. Safe...what did she mean?

Maya's gaze lingered on his face, her eyes searching. Augie felt a surge of discomfort, his skin crawling under her gaze.

They were in some kind of cabin, the walls made of rough-hewn wood. A fire crackled in the corner, the flames casting flickering shadows on the walls.

Augie's gaze snapped to the fire, his eyes fixed on the flames. He felt a sense of peace wash over him, his body relaxing.

Maya's grip on his waist tightened, her fingers digging deep into his skin. Augie winced, his body screaming in protest.

"Sorry," Maya muttered, her voice barely audible.

Augie nodded, his eyes fixed on the fire. He knew she was trying to help.

Maya's gaze snapped to his face, her eyes narrowing. "We need to get you patched up," she said, her voice firm.

Augie nodded, his jaw clenched. He knew she was right.

Maya's gaze lingered on his face, her eyes searching. Augie felt a surge of discomfort, his skin crawling under her gaze.

And then, Maya moved, her body blurring as she worked. Augie felt a surge of pain, his body screaming in protest.

But Maya's hands were gentle, her touch soothing. Augie felt a sense of peace wash over him, his body relaxing.

He closed his eyes, his mind drifting. He knew he was in good hands.

Maya's voice echoed through his mind, her words soft and soothing. "It's okay, Augie. I've got you."

Augie's eyes fluttered open, his gaze locking onto Maya's face. Her eyes were narrowed, her jaw clenched.

"Thanks," Augie muttered, his voice barely audible.

Maya's gaze snapped to his face, her eyes softening. "Anytime," she said, her voice firm.

Augie's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. Who was this woman? And why was she helping him?

Maya's gaze lingered on his face, her eyes searching. Augie felt a surge of discomfort, his skin crawling under her gaze.

But he knew he couldn't afford to be suspicious. Not now.

Augie's gaze snapped to the fire, his eyes fixed on the flames. He felt a sense of peace wash over him, his body relaxing.

He knew he was in good hands.

But for how long?

Augie's eyes fluttered open, his gaze locking onto the ceiling. He was met with the familiar sight of wooden beams, the same ones he had stared at for what felt like hours the day before.

He tried to sit up, but a wave of pain washed over him, forcing him back onto the bed. Maya's face appeared above him, her eyes narrowed in concern.

"Easy," she said, her voice soft. "You're not ready to get up yet."

Augie nodded, his jaw clenched. He knew she was right.

Maya's gaze lingered on his face, her eyes searching. Augie felt a surge of discomfort, his skin crawling under her gaze.

But he knew he couldn't afford to be suspicious. Not now.

Maya's face disappeared, replaced by the sight of a tray filled with food. Augie's stomach growled, his mouth watering.

"Thanks," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Maya's face reappeared, a small smile playing on her lips. "Anytime," she said, her voice firm.

Augie dug into the food, his hunger sated. He felt a sense of peace wash over him, his body relaxing.

But his mind was still racing. Who was Maya? And why was she helping him?

Maya's face appeared above him, her eyes narrowed. "You're thinking too much," she said, her voice soft.

Augie nodded, his jaw clenched. He knew she was right.

Maya's gaze lingered on his face, her eyes searching. Augie felt a surge of discomfort, his skin crawling under her gaze.

But he knew he couldn't afford to be suspicious. Not now.

Maya's face disappeared, replaced by the sight of the fire. Augie felt a sense of peace wash over him, his body relaxing.

He closed his eyes, his mind drifting. He knew he was in good hands.

But for how long?

Augie's eyes fluttered open, his gaze locking onto Maya's face. She was sitting in a chair, her eyes fixed on the fire.

"Who are you?" Augie asked, his voice barely audible.

Maya's gaze snapped to his face, her eyes narrowing. "I told you," she said, her voice firm. "My name is Maya."

Augie nodded, his jaw clenched. He knew that wasn't what he meant.

Maya's gaze lingered on his face, her eyes searching. Augie felt a surge of discomfort, his skin crawling under her gaze.

But he knew he couldn't afford to be suspicious. Not now.

"Why are you helping me?" Augie asked, his voice barely audible.

Maya's gaze snapped to the fire, her eyes fixed on the flames. "I have my reasons," she said, her voice soft.

Augie nodded, his jaw clenched. He knew he wouldn't get anything else out of her.

Maya's gaze snapped back to his face, her eyes narrowing. "You need to rest," she said, her voice firm.

Augie nodded, his eyes closing. He knew she was right.

But his mind was still racing. Who was Maya? And why was she helping him?

The questions swirled in his mind, taunting him.

But Augie knew he wouldn't get any answers. Not now.

He drifted off to sleep, his body relaxing.

But his mind was still racing.

Augie's eyes fluttered open, his gaze locking onto the ceiling. He was met with the familiar sight of wooden beams, the same ones he had stared at for what felt like hours the day before.

He tried to sit up, but a wave of pain washed over him, forcing him back onto the bed. Maya's face appeared above him, her eyes narrowed in concern.

"Easy," she said, her voice soft. "You're not ready to get up yet."

Augie nodded, his jaw clenched. He knew she was right.

Maya's gaze lingered on his face, her eyes searching. Augie felt a surge of discomfort, his skin crawling under her gaze.

But he knew he couldn't afford to be suspicious. Not now.

Maya's face disappeared, replaced by the sight of a tray filled with food. Augie's stomach growled, his mouth watering.

"Thanks," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Maya's face reappeared, a small smile playing on her lips. "Anytime," she said, her voice firm.

Augie dug into the food, his hunger sated. He felt a sense of peace wash over him, his body relaxing.

But his mind was still racing. Who was Maya? And why was she helping him?

Maya's face appeared above him, her eyes narrowed. "You're thinking too much," she said, her voice soft.

Augie nodded, his jaw clenched. He knew she was right.

Maya's gaze lingered on his face, her eyes searching. Augie felt a surge of discomfort, his skin crawling under her gaze.

But he knew he couldn't afford to be suspicious. Not now.

Maya's face disappeared, replaced by the sight of the fire. Augie felt a sense of peace wash over him, his body relaxing.

He closed his eyes, his mind drifting. He knew he was in good hands.

But for how long?

Augie's eyes fluttered open, his gaze locking onto Maya's face. She was sitting in a chair, her eyes fixed on the fire.

"Who are you?" Augie asked, his voice barely audible.

Maya's gaze snapped to his face, her eyes narrowing. "I told you," she said, her voice firm. "My name is Maya."

Augie nodded, his jaw clenched. He knew that wasn't what he meant.

Maya's gaze lingered on his face, her eyes searching. Augie felt a surge of discomfort, his skin crawling under her gaze.

But he knew he couldn't afford to be suspicious. Not now.

"Why are you helping me?" Augie asked, his voice barely audible.

Maya's gaze snapped to the fire, her eyes fixed on the flames. "I have my reasons," she said, her voice soft.

Augie nodded, his jaw clenched. He knew he wouldn't get anything else out of her.

Maya's gaze snapped back to his face, her eyes narrowing. "You need to rest," she said, her voice firm.

Augie nodded, his eyes closing. He knew she was right.

But his mind was still racing. Who was Maya? And why was she helping him?

The questions swirled in his mind, taunting him.

But Augie knew he wouldn't get any answers. Not now.

He drifted off to sleep, his body relaxing.

But his mind was still racing.