Chapter 13 - The Beacon in the Dark
The flickering light emanated from the rusted iron chimney of the central cabin at the old logging station, casting long, eerie shadows across the snow-covered clearing. Mark approached the heavy oak door with caution, his body aching from the brutal trek through the blizzard, while Elena shielded Leo against her chest to protect him from the biting wind. There were no vehicles parked outside, making the burning fire inside the stone hearth all the more unsettling and impossible to ignore. Mark pushed the heavy door open, stepping into the unexpected wave of dry, heated air that rushed out to greet them. The interior was lit by dozens of flickering candles, and sitting comfortably in a rocking chair by the fire was none other than James Miller, sipping hot tea as if he had been expecting them for dinner. James looked up calmly, welcoming his family into the makeshift sanctuary and explaining that he had taken a shortcut through the mountain ridge tunnels. Elena collapsed onto a nearby wooden bench, completely drained of energy, while Leo slipped down from Mark’s shoulders and ran straight toward his great-grandfather without a shred of hesitation. James smiled warmly, picking the toddler up and setting him on his lap, before turning to Mark with a grim look in his eyes and announcing that the enforcers were already surrounding the clearing.
