Caden’s breath came in quick, sharp gasps as the cold air bit at his skin. The whistle had cut through the stillness of the snow-covered forest. “Rose?” His voice cracked, but no answer came. He collapsed to his knees, the cold seeping into him as he muttered, “This is gonna be brutal.” The emptiness around him pressed in like a suffocating weight.

The crunch of boots in the snow broke the silence. Caden didn’t need to look up. He knew who it was—Jason. His father’s cold gaze locked onto him as he emerged from the trees, dressed sharply in a suit, the dark tattoos on his forearms standing out against the pale snow.

“Still running, huh?” Jason’s voice was mocking, almost playful.

“I’m not running,” Caden’s voice shook, but he stood up anyway, legs trembling beneath him.

Jason’s smirk widened. Without warning, he grabbed Caden by the collar and lifted him off the ground. “You think you’ve changed?” Jason’s voice was low, his grip tightening, making it hard for Caden to breathe.

Caden gasped, his feet kicking at the air. “Let go…” he choked out, but Jason didn’t release him.

With a mocking laugh, Jason shoved him back into the snow. Caden hit the ground hard, the cold biting through his skin. He scrambled to rise, but Jason’s boot pressed against his chest, pinning him down.

“You’ll never get away from me,” Jason sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

As Jason turned and walked away, the snow began to fall, soft flakes drifting down, blanketing the world in a cold, silent haze. Caden’s throat and chest burned as bruises started to form, the pain blending with the numbing cold. His limbs trembled violently, and he could barely move.

“Rose…” His voice was barely a whisper, cracked and desperate. His eyes fluttered shut, the chill seeping deeper into his bones. “Where are… you?” The words escaped in a shiver, but they were drowned by the relentless snow falling around him. His body shook uncontrollably, the freezing air biting through him as the world around him spun and blurred. His breath was shallow now, his mind starting to slip away, the cold darkness swallowing him whole.

Rose kept walking, eventually sitting down ut hearing hushed voices distantly. She cautiously followed them, not daring to get too close. She barely heard her name and her breath hitched. Caden. She thought, getting a bit closer with the gun still tightly in her hand. She could hear the soft crunch of snow beneath her feet and she felt every snowflake that landed along her arms and legs. "Caden" She breathed, her eyes darting around for any signs left of Jason or his men. She breathed a sigh of relief when no such things popped out at her and she went to Caden's side. "Caden Caden Caden. Babe, i'm here." She said, his arms cold beneath her touch. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.

Rose pulled her arms away quickly at his reaction, eyes filled with concern. "You alright?" She asked, not moving

Rose's eyes lingered on the blossoming bruises, her hand instinctively stretching out and running down his collarbone. "You sure?" She asked softly, her eyes searching his

Rose reached up and kissed him lightly, her hand taking his cold one

She took his hand, following silently now