The cabin was quiet….too quiet. The air inside was heavy with dust and a few traces of pine. Desiree stood just beyond the threshold, her arms crossed as her eyes roamed the small living room. There was a single lamp flickering on the side table, barely lighting up the rustic space. The smell of damp wood and cold air filled her lungs. The place didn’t feel safe, not one bit. It didn’t even feel livable.

He dropped the car keys on the wooden counter, exhaling as if the drive itself had ...