Dangerous Affection

In The Shadows

(QUINN'S POV)

We jumped out of the window, adrenaline coursing through my veins as we hit the ground. The cold night air wrapped around us, but it didn't numb the panic thrumming in my chest. We took off running, hearts pounding, and I glanced back at Lila, who was breathless beside me.

As we reached the edge of the hospital grounds, I slowed down, catching my breath. But when I looked at Lila, her face was pale, a mixture of fear and regret written across her features.

"We... we didn't save Jessica," she said, her voice shaky. "We just left her there! What if they hurt her?"

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. "I know. But we couldn't risk getting caught. If they'd found us, we wouldn't have been able to help anyone."

Lila shook her head, her frustration palpable. "But she needed us, Quinn! We should have done something."

"We will," I promised, my determination rising. "We'll go back. We just need to figure out what's really happening first."

She turned to me, her eyes shimmering with a mix of fear and uncertainty. "What if it's too late by then?"

I didn't have an answer for her, but I knew we couldn't let our fear paralyze us. "Lila, listen. We're in this together. We'll find a way to help her, I swear."

As we ducked behind a large tree, the shadows cast by the moonlight danced around us, heightening the intimacy of the moment. I could feel the heat radiating from her, and it struck me how close we were, our bodies barely inches apart. The weight of our situation hung in the air, but in that moment, all I could think about was how much I wanted to bridge the distance between us.

Suddenly, we heard voices approaching from the direction of the hospital. "They couldn't have gone far," one of the nurses said. "Check the perimeter!"

Lila's eyes widened, and she pressed closer to me. I instinctively placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling her tense beneath my touch. "Stay quiet," I whispered, my heart racing.

As the footsteps drew nearer, I scanned our surroundings for a place to hide. Just then, I noticed a small shed tucked away behind the trees. "Over there," I nodded toward the shed. "We can hide inside."

Lila hesitated, her fear palpable. "What if they find us?"

"They won't," I assured her, though my voice trembled with uncertainty. "Trust me."

We slipped into the shed, the door creaking slightly as it closed behind us. The dim light filtered through cracks in the wood, illuminating dust motes swirling in the air. It was cramped and musty, but at least we were out of sight.

As we crouched together in the darkness, I could feel Lila's anxiety radiating off her in waves. "Quinn, what if they find Jessica? What if we never get to her in time? How could we leave her at such a weak state?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "We'll figure this out together, I promise."

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from outside the shed, causing us both to jump. I held my breath, praying they wouldn't find us. The tension in the air was thick, and I could feel Lila's hand gripping my arm tightly.

"Shh," I murmured, trying to calm her. I knew that in this moment, we had to focus on surviving and finding a way to help Jessica.

But deep down, I felt the weight of our choices pressing heavily on my shoulders. We were in too deep now, and there was no turning back.

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