The night stretched on in endless silence, broken only by the distant howl of the wind and the rustling of leaves.
The stars above seemed indifferent to their suffering, twinkling against the vast darkness, while Ethan sat on the cold ground, holding Mara close.
Something was wrong.
Her skin was too warm against his. Feverish. Her breaths were shallow, uneven. This wasn't good, not for her, not for the baby.
Ethan swallowed the panic rising in his throat. He had been trying to stay calm trying to convince himself that rescue would come soon. But now, seeing her like this, shaking and barely able to keep her eyes open, fear gripped him.
"Mara, stay with me," he murmured, brushing damp strands of hair from her face. "You're burning up."
She tried to reply, but her voice was weak, barely a whisper.
