Chapter 14: The Calm After the Storm

As the whisper faded away, Chris's heart sank, and he felt a chill run down his spine. He strained his ears, listening for any further sound from Jed, but there was only silence. The storm raged on outside, but inside the loft, an unsettling stillness had fallen. Chris's eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness, and he saw Dakota's face, pale and frightened, inches from his own. "Jed?" Chris whispered, his voice barely audible. Dakota's eyes widened, and she shook her head, her voice trembling. "I think he's...he's gone." Chris's mind reeled as he processed her words. He peered out from under the bed, trying to see if Jed was still in the loft, but it was too dark. The storm showed no signs of letting up, and Chris knew they couldn't stay hidden under the bed forever. With a surge of adrenaline, Chris carefully extracted himself from under the bed, his eyes scanning the loft for any sign of Jed. The darkness seemed to swallow everything, making it impossible to see. He called out Jed's name again, but the only response was the creaking of the cabin and the howling of the wind. Dakota slid out from under the bed, her eyes clinging to Chris's face. "What do we do?" she whispered. Chris hesitated, unsure of what to do next. He knew they couldn't stay in the loft, but going downstairs seemed like a daunting task. The fire below had died down, and the thought of navigating the dark cabin, with the storm raging outside, was terrifying. As if reading his mind, Dakota took his hand, her grip tight. "We have to find him," she said, her voice firm. Chris nodded, and together, they began to make their way down the ladder, their hearts pounding in unison. The storm raged on outside, but they knew they had to face whatever lay ahead. As they reached the main floor, Chris fumbled for the flashlight on the table, turning it on to illuminate the dark cabin. The beam of light danced across the room, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The cabin was in disarray, furniture overturned, and belongings scattered everywhere. Chris's heart sank as he saw Jed's rifle lying on the floor, near the door. A cold dread crept up his spine as he realized that Jed might have gone outside. "Jed!" Chris yelled, his voice carrying above the storm. "Jed, where are you?" The only response was the wind, howling through the trees, and the creaking of the cabin. Chris and Dakota exchanged a fearful glance, and without a word, they knew what they had to do. They had to find Jed, and they had to get out of the cabin, before it was too late.