The night had settled quietly over the farm.
A soft glow came from the windows of the farmhouse, spreading warmth into the cool darkness outside. The distant sounds of animals, lowing cattle, soft bleats of sheep, and the occasional movement of horses, created a calm rhythm that felt almost untouched by the chaos beyond the walls.
Inside the house, Luis stood near one of the windows, holding the satellite phone. The signal connected after a few seconds.
Then.. "Luis."
Federick's voice came through clearly. Luis let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "Dad."
Mia, standing nearby, turned slightly toward him, listening. "We're safe," Luis continued. "We made it to Pablo's parents' farm."
There was a brief pause on the other end before Federick spoke again. "You're not at the meeting point anymore?"
Luis shook his head slightly, even though his father couldn't see him. "No. Pablo was injured. Gunshot wound to the leg. His brother Rio found us and brought us to him. We gave him first aid, then brought him here."
Federick exhaled slowly. "You did the right thing."
Luis leaned lightly against the wall. "He has a family here. A wife. Two children."
"How bad is the injury?" Federick asked.
"Serious," Luis admitted. "But stable for now. He needs proper care and rest."
There was a short silence before Federick's tone changed slightly. "Luis… something happened here."
Luis straightened immediately. "What is it?"
Mia looked at him, her expression tightening.
"There were people outside the bunker," Federick said.
Luis's grip on the phone tightened. "What do you mean?"
"We saw them through the surveillance cameras," Federick continued. "A man and a woman. They were checking the area."
Luis's eyes darkened. "Did they find anything?"
"No," Federick replied. "The bunker is still hidden. But they were close."
Luis glanced at Mia, who had already understood the situation from his expression.
"They might have seen you and Mia earlier," Federick added. "When you left."
Luis exhaled slowly. "That means it's not safe for us to return yet."
"Yes," Federick said firmly. "Stay where you are for now. A few more days."
Luis nodded. "We'll stay here."
"They seem like good people?" Federick asked.
Luis looked around the room.
Pablo's family moved quietly in the background, preparing food, organizing supplies, checking on the children.
"They are," Luis said. "The farm is secure. Strong walls. Enough food. It's safer than most places."
Federick's voice softened slightly. "That's good." Then he added, "Don't worry about us. We're safe in the bunker."
Luis closed his eyes briefly, feeling both relief and concern. "You still need to be careful," Luis said. "If those people come back—"
"We will handle it," Federick interrupted calmly. "Our priority is for you and Mia to stay safe outside."
Luis nodded. "Call me when the area is clear."
"I will," Federick said.
A pause followed.
Then Luis spoke again, his voice quieter. "Take care, Dad."
"You too, son."
The call ended.
Luis lowered the phone slowly. Mia stepped closer. "What did he say?"
Luis met her eyes. " There were people outside the bunker. Watching." Mia's expression grew serious. "So we stay here."
Luis nodded. "For now."
The atmosphere inside the farmhouse slowly shifted as the tension eased.
Warm light filled the living room where the family gathered. A wooden table had been prepared with simple food, though no one rushed to eat just yet.
Pablo rested on a couch near the fireplace, his injured leg carefully elevated and secured. His face still showed signs of pain, but his breathing had steadied. Jean sat beside him, holding his hand tightly. A few steps away, on a carefully arranged bedding made from cushions and blankets, lay a small figure, Leah. Her face was pale, her body weak beneath the covers. A damp cloth rested on her forehead, and her breathing came slow and uneven. The room grew quieter around her.
Pablo turned his head, his expression tightening despite the pain in his leg. "How is she?" he asked softly.
Jean brushed a strand of hair away from Leah's face. "She's holding on," she said. "But her fever is still high."
Luis stepped forward, setting down one of the medical bags. "We brought antibiotics," he said.
Jean looked up immediately, hope breaking through her exhaustion. Mia nodded gently.
"We made sure to bring everything we could."
Susan, who stood nearby, covered her mouth as emotion filled her eyes. "Thank you…" she whispered.
Luis carefully opened the medical kit. "We should start her treatment as soon as possible," he said. "The sooner she takes it, the better her chances."
Jean nodded quickly, her hands trembling slightly. "Yes… please."
Pablo leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes briefly. Relief softened his face.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "You saved her."
Leah stirred faintly at the sound of voices, shifting weakly under the blanket, but she did not wake. Mia stepped closer and gently adjusted the cloth on Leah's forehead. Her expression softened, but concern remained in her eyes. "We'll help her get through this," Mia said quietly.
Not far from them, Ian sat on the floor, quietly playing with a small wooden toy. Too young to understand everything, he occasionally glanced toward his sister before returning to his simple game. Rio stayed close to him, offering quiet comfort.
Across the room, a tall older man stepped forward. Leon, his presence carried quiet strength. He approached Luis and Mia with steady steps. "You are the ones who helped my son."
Luis nodded respectfully. "Yes, sir."
Leon extended his hand. Luis shook it firmly.
"Thank you," Leon said. "Not just for bringing him back… but for helping my granddaughter."
Mia gave a small, sincere smile. "We just did what we could."
Leon studied them for a moment before nodding.
"You are welcome in this home."
Behind him, Susan wiped her eyes again but smiled warmly. "You'll stay tonight. No arguments."
Luis and Mia exchanged a glance before nodding. "Thank you," Mia said.
Later that evening, the farm settled into a calm rhythm.
Some of the farm workers moved quietly outside, checking the fences and animals for the night. Lamps were lit along parts of the inner fence, giving the place a sense of security.
Inside the house, the first dose of medicine had been given to Leah. Jean stayed beside her, gently watching over her. Pablo rested, exhaustion finally pulling him into a light sleep. The tension of the day slowly faded into quiet relief.
Luis stepped out onto the porch, breathing in the cool night air. The sky above was clear, filled with countless stars. For a moment, everything felt still, peaceful. Footsteps followed behind him. Mia stepped outside and joined him. She rested her arms lightly on the wooden railing. "It's nice here," she said softly.
Luis nodded. "It is."
They stood in silence for a while. The wind moved gently across the fields. From afar, the soft sound of animals settling for the night could be heard. Mia glanced at him.
"You think your father is really okay?"
Luis hesitated, then nodded.
"He wouldn't say that if they weren't."
Mia looked back at the horizon.
"I hope those people leave soon."
"They will," Luis said.
Then, after a brief pause, he added,
"And if they don't… we'll deal with it."
Mia smiled faintly.
"You always sound so sure."
Luis let out a quiet breath.
"I'm not."
She looked at him again.
"I just don't want you to worry."
The words lingered between them.
Mia's expression softened.
"You don't have to carry everything alone."
Luis met her gaze.
The night seemed to grow quieter around them, closer. Mia didn't look away. Neither did Luis. The distance between them slowly faded. Unspoken feelings lingered in the silence. Luis shifted slightly, as if about to say something. Mia's breath caught faintly.
Then..
The door behind them opened. Footsteps approached. They both stepped back instinctively. The moment broke. Rio stepped onto the porch, unaware of what he had interrupted. "Hey," he said. "Dad's asking for you inside."
Luis cleared his throat. "Yeah. We're coming."
Mia nodded quietly.
As they walked back inside, neither of them spoke. But something between them had changed. And neither of them could ignore it anymore.