THE CABINROMAN'S POVThe cabin was too quiet.The only sounds were the soft creak of old wood settling, the faint whistle of wind through the trees outside, and the uneven rhythm of my own breathing. I stood just inside the living room doorway, body tensed, every muscle locked and ready. Across from me, Liana held the kitchen knife loosely at her side, the blade catching the weak yellow light from the single bulb overhead. Between us, Noelle sat bound to the wooden chair, her wrists raw where the rope had bitten into her skin, her ankles secured tightly to the chair legs.Her eyes were fixed on me.I forced myself to look at her first.“Noelle,” I said, keeping my voice low and steady even though my throat felt scraped raw. “I’m here. You’re going to be okay.”She couldn’t speak through the gag, but she nodded once, a small, trembling movement. Tears streaked her cheeks. Dirt and dried tracks marked her face. The sight of her looking like this. Helpless, afraid, and entirely because
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