The Midnight Train

16:

Nolan stood at the cabin door, rifle gripped tightly in his hands, the cold metal a stark reminder of the danger that loomed just outside. The thudding knocks reverberated through the small space, each one echoing like a countdown to confrontation. He took a steadying breath, his heart racing as he braced himself for the confrontation he never wanted.

“Open up, Nolan!” a voice barked from outside, dripping with disdain. “How long are you going to keep running? You think you can hide forever? We both know that deal we made doesn’t just go away.”

He recognized the voice immediately—Damon Hart’s crew. As he opened the door, a bitter wave of fear and anger crashed over him, and he felt a familiar knot tighten in his stomach. “You’re not welcome here,” he replied, his voice steady despite the tremor of adrenaline coursing through him.

“Funny, because it sure seems like you’ve been hiding out in here,” another voice chimed in, mocking. “You think you can just forget about the family? Your blood runs thicker than water, Detective.”

Nolan felt his grip tighten around the rifle, muscles coiling with tension. “I backed out the moment you killed my sister,” he snapped, the words bursting forth like a dam breaking. The raw pain of that loss rushed back to him, flooding his mind with memories of laughter and warmth, of shared secrets and late-night talks. “You think I could ever forget? You think I’d be part of your twisted games after that?”

Silence fell for a moment, the air thick with tension as the crew absorbed his words. Then, a low, mocking laugh broke the stillness. “Oh, come on. She was just collateral damage, wasn’t she? You know how this works, Nolan. It was always business, never personal.”

The dismissive tone ignited a fury deep within him. He took a step closer to the door, rifle aimed squarely at the sound of their taunts. “You should stay out of my way,” he said, voice cold and resolute. “I won’t hesitate to protect what’s left of my family. You’ve taken enough from me.”

“Or what?” The second-in-command, Derek’s voice grew sharper, no longer mocking but menacing. “You’ll shoot us? We’ve seen what you can do. You’re not scaring us, Nolan. Just point that thing at us, and see what happens.”

Nolan’s heart raced, anger and fear warring within him. “Stay away from me,” he warned, feeling the weight of his words. “I’m not playing your games anymore.”

A pause hung heavy in the air, then Derek’s tone shifted, growing darker. “Where’s the girl, Nolan? You think we didn’t know you were hiding her? We thought she didn’t survive, but we know better now.”

The name hung in the air like a curse, and panic surged through Nolan. “What girl?” he feigned innocence, though his voice wavered, betraying his resolve.

“Lydia,” one of them spat, venom lacing their words. “You’re protecting her, aren’t you?”

Nolan felt a wave of vulnerability wash over him, the threat to Lydia pulling at his heart. He had sworn to keep her safe, to shield her from the darkness of his past. “Stay away from her,” he said, voice trembling but firm, his resolve hardening with every breath. “She’s got nothing to do with this. She was only helping to bring justice.”

“Justice?” Derek sneered. “You think you’re some kind of hero now? You can’t hide her forever. You’ve already lost so much, and we’re not done with you yet.”

The threat in Derek’s voice hung in the air like a noose tightening around his throat. Nolan felt the ache of betrayal and grief welling up, raw and unfiltered. “You killed her, Derek,” he said, his voice cracking. “You took my sister from me. I won’t let you take Lydia too. Not now, not ever.”

The crew exchanged glances, the tension shifting from aggression to something colder. “You’re being foolish, Nolan,” Derek said, stepping forward, his eyes narrowing. “You think this is over? You think you can keep running from us? We will find her, and when we do, you know what’s at stake.”

Nolan’s heart raced, a swell of fear clawing at him. “I said leave her out of it,” he reiterated, voice low and filled with determination. “You’ve already taken enough from me. I won’t let you hurt her too. She’s not a pawn in your game.”

Derek’s demeanor shifted to one of mock sympathy. “Okay, okay, Detective,” he replied, backing off slightly, a hint of amusement still dancing in his eyes despite the weight of the threat. “We’ll play it your way for now. But remember, we promised we’d be back. And you better watch your back.”

As they retreated, laughter trailing off into the distance, Nolan stood at the door, the rifle still raised, heart pounding with adrenaline and dread. The threat lingered like a storm cloud, darkening the cabin and enveloping him in uncertainty. He had protected Lydia for now, but he knew the past was relentless, and it wouldn’t be long before the shadows came creeping back.

He turned back into the cabin, the warmth of their earlier connection with Lydia feeling distant and fragile. The door clicked shut behind him, but the weight of his pain and vulnerability remained. He needed to find a way to keep her safe, to shield her from the ghosts of his past and the monsters that lurked just outside their door. But as he looked around the cabin, the walls felt like they were closing in, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that they were both running out of time.