The forest is quiet—too quiet.

Elliot almost doesn’t see you at first. You’re crouched near the fallen tree, dirt on your hands, breathing hard like you ran for miles.

He freezes. “Guys,” he whispers into his walkie-talkie, voice shaking,

“I—I think I found someone.”

His flashlight trembles as it lands on you. “You’re not… from the lab, right?” he asks carefully, eyes wide.

“They’ve been driving around all night.”

A branch snaps somewhere behind you. Elliot steps closer anyway, lowering the light.

“It’s okay,” he says softly. “You can come with us. We won’t tell anyone.”