HERS TO PROTECT

Chapter 4

Close Encounters

As they cautiously moved away from the abandoned camp, Lia stayed alert, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement. They hadn't gone far when she heard footsteps—human.

"Heavy footsteps... like..." she thought.

"Men are walking," Ethan whispered, interrupting her thoughts.

Lia was puzzled. The sound reminded her of Lucas, who could detect environmental sounds. She hadn't realized she was looking at Ethan until he smiled.

"You're beautiful," Ethan muttered again, staring at her.

His words jolted Lia back to reality. She was surprised to find his face so close to hers, feeling the warmth of his breath and noticing his gaze drop to her slightly parted lips. A whirlwind of emotions stirred within her; her heart raced as if it might burst from her chest. It had been two years since she had felt such a thrill—free from fear or worry, just pure excitement.

Ethan's jaw tightened as he wrestled with the urge to kiss her. Unless he acted quickly, he might never have the opportunity.

"Ethan," Lia whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves and distant sounds of nature. "Do you think they're the ones Mang Tonyo mentioned?"

Ethan hesitated, shifting his gaze between Lia's serious expression and the distant men. Regret flickered in his eyes as he finally looked away. "Yes," he answered quietly.

Lia nodded slowly, glancing at Ethan as he studied the men in the distance. It seemed like he recognized them. "Do you know them?"

"They're the ones chasing me," Ethan admitted. "We should leave before they notice us."

Just before standing up, Lia was startled when Ethan grabbed her hand and quickly led her away. They walked carefully to prevent noise. The distant chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves reminded them they were on an island.

Lia furrowed her brow, feeling the warmth of Ethan's hand—like electricity spreading through her. She quickly let go, surprising him.

Ethan glanced back at her. "I think we need to find another place to hide," Lia said, her tone a mix of worry and determination. "We're not safe if we stay close to them." She took another knife from her bag and handed it to Ethan. "Here, take this. If we split up, you might need it."

"Split up?" Ethan frowned. "We don't even have a relationship, and you're already talking about breaking up."

"I'm serious..."

"So am I. I'm serious too."

After a while, they arrived at a stunning waterfall. They rested briefly with the pool's cool mist and smooth water flow. They carefully walked across the large rocks to the back of the falls. Lia's instincts were right—they found a small cave behind the waterfall that could serve as a temporary hideout.

"What's our plan?" Ethan asked, scanning the area. "Do you think we're safe here?"

"I think we're safe," Lia replied. "Let's rest and gather our strength before moving on."

Ethan nodded. "Okay, I trust you."

After setting up their temporary shelter, they searched for food and stored water, meticulously preparing for every step to ensure they left no trace of their presence.

As night fell, they hurriedly searched for food, entering a part of the forest where they spotted the tracks of a wild boar.

"Do you think we can catch it?" Ethan asked, his eyes fixed on the tracks.