Vinz leaned closer to the window, peeking. Ken was outside, standing near the tricycle, facing two strangers.
Cassandra crouched by the other window, watching too. Her grip on the knife was tight, her face pale but steady.
"Who are they?" Vinz whispered.
Cassandra shook her head slightly. "I don't know… but they don't look like the type who asks nicely."
Outside, the man with the gun spoke. "We just want to talk, man. No need to make it hard."
Ken's tone was low and cautious. "If you want to talk, talk. But I'm not giving you anything."
The one with the machete stepped forward, pointing at the tricycle.
"That ride looks nice. Maybe we take that, huh?"
Ken didn't flinch. "You're not taking anything."
The air went still.
Even from inside, Vinz could feel the tension hanging like a knife ready to drop. He could see Ken's hand slowly lowering near his axe.
"Ken…" Vinz muttered under his breath.
Then a sound.
CLICK.
The man with the pistol cocked his gun. "Last warning, man."
Ken's jaw tightened. "You better leave now."
The machete guy laughed. "Or what?"
Cassandra pulled Vinz down lower as the two men outside stepped closer.
"They're going to fight," she whispered.
And then it happened.
The man with the gun raised his hand slightly.
"You stay out here," he told the machete guy.
"I'll check inside. I bet there's food hidden somewhere."
Cassandra's whisper came quick and sharp. "He's coming. Stay quiet."
The sound of boots approached the door. Slow, heavy steps. The door handle rattled, then creaked open.
The man entered with his pistol drawn, his eyes scanning the small cabin. Vinz and Cassandra hid behind the old wooden table flipped sideways, their hearts pounding in rhythm with every creak of the floorboards.
"Anybody here?" the man called out. His voice was calm but carried a tone of threat.
Outside, the other man shouted, "Don't take too long! I'm gettin' tired of talkin'!"
Ken answered, "You'll be tired for good if you keep pushing me."
The two voices clashed.
Inside, the man moved closer, his pistol raised, scanning every corner. He kicked over a broken chair, then a metal bucket, looking around carefully.
Vinz's hands were slick with sweat. He could hear his heartbeat thudding in his ears.
Cassandra slowly mouthed, "Be ready."
The man's flashlight beam landed on a crate near the back wall.
His grin widened. "What do we have here?"
He knelt down and opened it. Inside were cans of food, bottles of water, and tools.
He chuckled under his breath. "Jackpot. The boys are gonna love this."
That's when Cassandra moved.
She rose silently, like a shadow, her knife glinting under the sunlight that peeked through the cracks. She took one step, then another, until she was right behind him.
Vinz followed, gripping his hammer so tight his knuckles turned white.
Then Cassandra struck.
Her knife slid into the side of the man's neck before he could even turn around. His breath caught in his throat as he stumbled forward, gurgling.
But his finger twitched.
BANG!
The gun fired once, echoing through the cabin like thunder.
The bullet ripped through the air but hit nothing.
Before the man could raise it again, Vinz swung his hammer. It connected hard with his skull. A sickening crack followed. The man dropped instantly, his body hitting the floor with a heavy thud.
Cassandra backed away, breathing fast. Her hands trembled slightly as blood dripped from her knife.
Vinz stood frozen, hammer raised, chest heaving. His eyes met hers for a brief second, shock, fear, and something else they couldn't name.
"What the hell was that?!" shouted the machete guy.
He heard the gunshot.
Ken didn't wait. The moment the man turned his head toward the cabin, Ken swung his axe with full force.
It connected right in the man's shoulder, cutting deep. The machete fell from his hand. He screamed, staggering back. Ken swung again, this time, hitting the neck. The blade sliced through, ending it in one motion.
The forest fell silent.
Only the soft buzz of flies and the sound of Ken's heavy breathing filled the air.
Ken stood still, the axe dripping red, his face pale but calm. He looked toward the cabin.
Vinz stepped out slowly, hammer still in hand, his shirt splattered with blood. Cassandra followed him, wiping her knife on her sleeve.
Ken's eyes met Vinz's. "You both okay?"
Vinz nodded, his throat dry. "Yeah…"
Ken sighed and dropped the axe to his side. "Good."
He looked down at the two dead bodies, one outside, one inside. The smell of gunpowder and blood mixed in the warm afternoon air.
Cassandra sheathed her knife quietly. "They could have more people," she said softly.
Ken nodded. "We'll move the bodies. Then we pack everything. We might have to leave soon."
Vinz stared at the man he killed. His chest tightened, the weight of what just happened pressing down on him. His hands were still trembling.
Ken noticed. "Don't blame yourself, Vinz. You did what you had to do."
Vinz didn't answer. He just looked down at the hammer, the blood dripping from its head, dark and heavy.
The three of them worked quickly. Ken dragged the body outside, dumping it into the woods a few meters away. Cassandra cleaned the floor, though the dark stains still clung to the wood. Vinz stood by the doorway, eyes distant.
When everything was quiet again, Ken sat down on a wooden chair, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"We can't stay here long," he said.
"That shot could've drawn more of them."
Cassandra nodded. "I'll check the road before sunset."
Vinz didn't say a word. He walked outside, staring at the sun sinking behind the trees. The orange light fell across the ground where the blood stained the grass.
He tightened his grip on the hammer.
The air was heavy, but something inside him changed.
Now, he knew. Hesitation could kill.