“What do you mean?” the old lady asked.

“We need to leave. Please don’t ask questions. I know they’ll hurt you if I leave you behind.”

Ana stood frozen, holding a sleeping Daryl in her arms as I hurriedly packed our bags. She watched silently while I cleared the house.

“Laine, whatever you’re running from won’t stop until it catches up with this innocent baby,” she said softly.

“That’s why we need to leave immediately,” I replied, my voice trembling with urgency.

As I loaded the bags into the trunk of my car, I noticed Ana dragging her luggage back into the house.

“No! Stop! What are you doing? We...