Later that night, the house was dark and still, every sound amplified in the quiet. Dad had gone to bed hours ago, and the low hum of the house settling around us seemed to echo our own silent resolve. I barely breathed as I slipped out of bed and crept toward the door, my bag already packed.

Maxim was waiting in the hallway, a nod of reassurance in the dim light. “Everyone’s ready,” he whispered. “We’re moving quickly and quietly.”

I followed him down the hall, where Elijah, Ethan, and Lorenzo were waiting, each of them carrying a bag and wearing expressions of fierce determination. They were taking every step as carefully as possible, knowing that any sound could pull Dad from his room, ending everything.

Ethan leaned in, whispering, “We stick together. Quick and quiet.”

The air felt thick as we tiptoed down the stairs, each of us moving as soundlessly as possible, glancing over our shoulders toward Dad’s room. The knowledge that he was right there, only a few steps away, made my heart race.

Once we reached the bottom of the stairs, Lorenzo gestured toward the side door, his eyes scanning the darkened hall. Elijah opened it slowly, motioning for me to step through, and I felt the cool night air against my skin—a small relief that we were almost free.

Outside, Lorenzo whispered, “We’re going straight to the car. No lights. Stay close.”

We moved quickly across the yard, every step feeling like an eternity until we reached Elijah’s car parked just around the corner. One by one, we climbed in, barely speaking as the last bit of tension faded. I glanced back at the house, the looming shadow of it finally behind us.

Elijah turned the key in the ignition, his voice barely above a murmur. “It’s done. We’re out.”

As Elijah drove us away from the house, a quiet sense of relief settled over us, but none of us dared to speak. The only sound was the steady hum of the engine as we put more distance between ourselves and the place that had held us captive for so long.

I glanced out the window, the streets empty and dimly lit, each mile a small victory. My brothers sat in silence around me, each one alert, their faces cast in shadow but their eyes glinting with the weight of what we’d just done.

After a few minutes, Elijah broke the silence, his voice low. “We’ll be staying at the new place for now. It’s not perfect, but it’ll keep us safe.”

Lorenzo turned from the passenger seat, giving me a reassuring look. “And this time, Miray, you’re going to be free from him.”

The words sank in slowly, but the reality felt distant, almost too good to believe. I clutched my bag tighter, my mind racing with everything we’d left behind—and everything we’d escaped. They’d pulled me out, given me a second chance to breathe. I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to repay them.

Ethan leaned forward, his hand resting on my shoulder. “You don’t have to say anything right now, okay? Just know that we’ve got you. You don’t need to be afraid anymore.”

Elijah’s eyes softened in the rearview mirror. “We’re going to take this one step at a time,” he said gently. “You’re safe now, and we’ll make sure it stays that way.”

As we drove deeper into the night, I felt the tension in my chest start to ease, the tight grip of fear loosening bit by bit. We were moving forward, free from Dad’s control. And maybe this time, I wasn’t going back.

__

The car rolled to a stop in front of a small, quiet house tucked away at the end of a narrow street. The headlights cast a dim glow over the driveway, and Elijah turned off the engine, plunging us into silence once again. We all sat there for a moment, taking in our new reality, the finality of it sinking in.

Lorenzo was the first to speak, his voice breaking the stillness. “Well, here we are,” he said softly, giving me a reassuring nod. “Home, for now.”

The house looked plain and a little worn, with a faintly peeling door and narrow windows, but there was a comfort in its simplicity. It was ours—a place where he wouldn’t find us.

One by one, we stepped out of the car and quietly unloaded our things, each of us casting a glance back toward the empty street, double-checking that we hadn’t been followed. The night air was cool, carrying the faint sounds of crickets and rustling leaves. For the first time in a long time, the silence didn’t feel heavy.

Inside, Elijah flipped on the light, casting a warm glow over a modest living room with a few old couches and a bare kitchen table. It wasn’t much, but it was safe, and that was enough.

“Let’s find our rooms, get some rest,” Elijah suggested, his voice weary but steady. “We’ll unpack in the morning.”

We moved through the small hallway, each of us staking out a room. Lorenzo helped me settle into the smallest one near the back, where a window looked out over a quiet patch of grass. He set my bag down gently, giving me a soft smile. “If you need anything, I’m right next door, alright?”

I nodded, exhaustion pressing down on me as I took in the simple space—the bare walls, the tiny closet, the bed tucked against the wall. It wasn’t much, but it was mine. For the first time, I felt a glimmer of safety in a room of my own.

Maxim stopped by the door, leaning in as he met my eyes. “Get some rest, Rei ,” he murmured. “We’re here now. He won’t touch you again.”

The finality in his voice brought a wave of relief, and I managed a small smile as they quietly left the room, closing the door behind them. I lay down, pulling the blanket around me, letting the stillness of the house settle over me. For the first time, I felt a fragile sense of peace, the silence broken only by the faint voices of my brothers down the hall as they moved through the house.

And with that, I closed my eyes, allowing myself to drift into sleep, a new beginning waiting just beyond the night.

___

Elijah woke suddenly, a strange sense of unease prickling at the back of his mind. Blinking in the darkness, he reached for the glass of water by his bedside but stopped when he heard a faint noise—a muffled, pained sound.

He stilled, straining to listen. The noise came again, unmistakably from Miray’s room, soft but urgent, a broken whisper that sent a chill down his spine.

“Please… no…” Her voice was small, pleading, like she was trapped somewhere far away.

Elijah pushed himself out of bed and moved quietly to her door, his heart pounding. Gently, he cracked the door open, and in the dim light, he saw her on the bed, thrashing slightly, her hands clenching the sheets as her face twisted with fear.

“Miray,” he whispered, stepping closer. She didn’t stir, her body caught in the grip of her nightmare. Her breathing was quick, shallow, her brow furrowed in distress as she let out another faint, panicked cry.

“Miray, it’s me,” he said gently, kneeling beside her, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re safe. You’re with us.”

But she didn’t hear him. She turned her head sharply, her lips moving in silent pleas, and Elijah’s chest tightened at the sight of his sister, locked in fear. He reached out, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. “Miray,” he said more firmly, giving her a soft shake, his heart pounding. “It’s just a dream. You’re safe.”

At his touch, her eyes flew open, wide and wild, and she gasped, instinctively pulling back. Her breathing came in short, sharp bursts as she looked around, disoriented and on the verge of panic.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re here, remember?” he said softly, steadying her with a hand on her shoulder. “Look at me, Miray. Just breathe.”

Her eyes locked onto his, and he could see the panic gradually fading, giving way to recognition. “Elijah?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Yeah, it’s me,” he said gently, his voice full of warmth. “It was just a nightmare. You’re safe now, I promise.”

A shiver ran through her as she took a shaky breath, grounding herself in the sound of his voice. “I… I thought…” she started, her voice breaking, but he shook his head gently.

“It’s okay,” he said gently, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. “Whatever it was, it can’t reach you here. Not anymore.”

She swallowed, nodding slowly, the tension in her body easing as she let herself breathe, her grip on the sheets loosening.

"Thank you."A small, fragile smile touched her lips, and he stayed by her side until her breathing steadied. When her eyes began to close again, he pulled the blanket up around her and quietly slipped back out, the door softly clicking shut behind him as he resolved to be there—whenever she needed him, and for as long as it took.