Chapter 95: The World Pushing You Forward
The loud banging on the door jerked Zara awake, her heart racing as she sat up in the dim light of dawn. Leo stirred beside her, his small form shifting restlessly, and Winter’s eyes snapped open, his body immediately tensing.
"Wake up!" a person’s voice barked through the door. "Get up, freeloaders. It’s dawn."
Winter took a slow, calming breath, pushing himself out of the bed. He walked to the door and swung it open. The soldier stood in the doorway, looking at him with a mix of disdain and impatience.
Zara quickly sat up, pulling the blanket tighter around her as she tried to wake Leo, who was blinking up at her, still half-asleep.
"I said move it!" the soldier snapped, glaring at the three of them.
Winter’s fists clenched, but he held back. "We’re getting ready. Give us a moment," he said coldly, his voice low but controlled.
Zara, sensing the tension, quickly stood up and stepped toward the soldier. "We’ll be out soon," she said firmly, putting a hand on Winter’s shoulder to steady him. She turned to the soldier, trying to remain composed, though the edge in her voice still slipped through. "There’s no need to be rude."
The soldier didn’t seem to care much for her tone, but he stared at her for a moment, his eyes calculating. He sneered, muttering something under his breath about getting rid of the dead weight, before stomping off down the hall.
Winter slammed the door behind him, and the quiet that followed was thick with tension.
Zara raked her hand through her hair and walked back to the bed. Leo, now wide-eyed, tugged on Zara’s sleeve. "Why was the man so mad?"
She took a deep breath, softening as she crouched beside him. "He’s just doing his job, sweetie. Don’t worry about it." She stroked his hair and tried to push down the knot of frustration building in her chest. "Let’s get ready. We’ll be out in a minute."