THERE'S A LIGHT ON THE ROAD 

AND I THINK YOU KNOW

MORNING IS COMING

AND I HAVE TO GO

Time to go.

It will be very hard for me to leave this place that I'm starting to call... comfort.

But hey, life is about change, they say.

The NEDS have been very understanding. They are preparing a backpack full of provisions for us.

Also clothes, new and warm clothes.

Jumpsuits. T-shirts.

All of that is too big for me. But better than clothes covered in mud and wet.

''No, please don't throw that away...''

Elliot points at one of them. It has his sweater on his paw, planning to get rid of it.

''I know it's full of blood and holes, but I can't let go of it...'' he approaches the NED and takes the sweater off its paw.

He hugs the piece of clothing for a second, then puts it on.

I can't imagine the sentimental value a simple sweater has.

"Well, guys..."  I start to speak, standing at the exit of the cave, where everyone is looking at us. "Thank you so much. I mean it from the bottom of my heart. You saved us."

"Yeah, thank you..."  Elliot whispers, giving them a small smile.

He finally comes out of the cave, still limping.

"Bye..."  I look at each of them before leaving. "I hope to see you someday..."

Leaving a sigh in the air, I meet Elliot at the exit.

Leaning on the edge of the cave, watching the only light that illuminates us.

The moon.

I find it comforting to see it so pretty and clean.

Probably the only light I like.

I had never had the chance to see it. Always overshadowed by the neon lights in DEMA.

''Have you ever seen the moon? ''  he asks, looking at me —It's pretty, isn't it?

''You can't see much in DEMA...''  I answer, unable to stop looking at it  '' The neon lights cover it completely, but it's the most beautiful thing in the world...''

He lets out a small laugh.

''Come on, let's go...''

We start walking. We enter the lush forest.

Is that a squirrel? Some kind of... bird with a long beak?

Wow. I feel like I'm in a biology class.

The trees are huge, and their long shadows cover us as we advance. Elliot walks slowly, his body still weak, but his steps are determined.

I remain silent, admiring the landscape, while I feel my feet sink into the mud.

"It's cold, isn't it?"  he asks, breaking the silence, with a grimace on his face.

He hugs himself as he continues walking, his breathing ragged.

"Are you okay, Elliot?"  I ask, knowing that expression on his face isn't exactly that of being cold.

He looks at me, his eyes dark under the shadows of the trees, and nods with a slight forced smile.

"I'm fine. Better than I was a week ago, that's for sure"  he says, trying to sound carefree.

"You're a bad liar"  I say with a small laugh, though my tone is soft, not meaning to pressure him. I just want to let him know that I see him, that he doesn't have to pretend in front of me.

He tries to form a smile, but a grimace of pain forms on his face.

''I think we should stop here... ''  I suggest, grabbing his arm gently.

''No... '' he keeps walking  ''They need me...''

''Elliot, please... A little rest will do us good. Calm down, they'll be fine...''

He stops, looks around and nods in resignation.

''You're right...''  he sighs ''This still hurts like hell...''

We move to a small clearing between the trees, clear enough to feel relatively safe.

Elliot kneels down slowly, very carefully, and begins to build a small bonfire with some dry branches we've found.

I move my hands to help, but he stops me with a look:

''Rest. I can do it''

I watch him silently, watching how, despite his exhaustion, he manages to light the bonfire. A small flame rises timidly, illuminating our faces in the darkness of the forest.

We sit around the fire, and the warmth is welcome. My muscles are tense from the cold and fatigue, but this little flame gives me some comfort.

We stay in silence for a few minutes, watching the flames dance and crackle, getting lost in our own thoughts.

"You know?" I begin to speak, my voice barely audible over the crackling of the fire. "Sometimes I think I'll never be safe again. Even though I'm out of that town, I still feel like I'm not safe... Not here, not anywhere."

He turns his head to me, his dark eyes shining in the light of the flames. His gaze seems to study my words.

"It's weird, isn't it?" I continue. "Thinking about everything we've been through. And yet, sometimes I feel like the worst is yet to come."

He nods, though he remains silent. I know he's been dealing with a lot of pain, both physical and emotional.

He still hasn't fully recovered, from the wounds or the memories.

"Have you ever felt like this?" I ask, turning slightly to look at him better. "Like no matter where you go, there's always something that follows you."

Elliot, leaning against the tree, closes his eyes for a moment, as if the words weigh on his chest. Finally, he opens his mouth to speak, his voice deeper than usual.

"Sometimes I feel like... there's no escape from who I am. Or what I've done."  His gaze is lost in the fire, as if the warmth of the flames can't reach him. "But I also know that I have a place. The camp. The Banditos. And there everything you've done and everything you've been through is forgotten. Even if there are dangers outside, you feel safe."

I remain silent, processing each of his words.

"Rabbit, there's a place for you at the camp..."

These words leave me stunned.

A place for me? A place where I'll be treated like a normal person?

My eyes fill with tears.

I'm about to answer, but a sound that makes me shudder interrupts us.

A laugh.

That laugh.

No. No. NO.

The sound reverberates through the trees, extinguishing the warmth of the fire in an instant. The laugh is soft, almost like an echo, but unmistakable. 

It slides through the shadows, rumbling in my ears, and my heart freezes.

I look around, searching through the dark trees. I feel the air grow heavier, fear quickly escalating in my chest.

"Did you hear that?"  Elliot murmurs, his voice tense.

I nod slowly, my eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the reach of the fire.

The trees seem to move around us, as if nature itself is mocking us. 

And then I see it. 

Those red eyes, shining through the shadows. 

Fixed on us.

"It can't be..."  I whisper, backing up a little towards the fire, feeling my blood freeze in my veins.

We stand there, still, hardly daring to breathe. 

The bonfire flickers with unsteady light, and the sound of laughter still echoes in my mind, as if etched deep within.

My hands are frozen, and even though Elliot is only inches away from me, I feel an unrelenting loneliness.

It's like the presence of those red eyes has sucked away all the warmth the fire was trying to give us.

"Rabbit, we have to go"  Elliot whispers, his voice broken but firm.

"Where ?"  I ask, panic churning in my chest. No direction seems safe now.

"Away from here..."