Chapter 11 - The Blood on the Snow
The hunter didn't flinch. "I don't know who you're looking for, but you're breaking my door." The leader of the men stepped forward, grabbing the old man by his coat. "Don't play dumb. We saw the tracks leading up here." Below the floorboards, Lily let out a tiny, involuntary cough. The mother clamped her hand over the child's mouth, tears streaming down her face. The leader stopped, his boots positioned directly above them. He looked down at the rug. He drew his gun, aiming it at the floor. Suddenly, the hunter swung his rifle like a club, smashing it into the leader's jaw. The man went down hard. Chaos erupted. Gunshots shattered the quiet of the cabin. The mother curled her body completely over Lily, praying the bullets wouldn't pierce the floorboards. When the gunfire finally ceased, heavy silence returned, followed by the sound of a body dragging across the floor. The rug was pulled back, the boards lifted, and a blood-spattered face looked down at them.
