“I’ve got one drone coming online,” he answered. “I’ll track movement in the tree line. But you need to get to her. Now.”
I didn’t need to be told.
Remi handed Jack a handgun, and he stared at it. There wasn’t time to question if he’d shoot. None of us had the luxury of hesitating anymore.
'What am I supposed to do with this?" he asked.
She looked like she might punch him, and then she replied, "You aim it and shoot, Jack. You know, shoot the bad guys. If that is too difficult, hold the barrel and use the handle to hit someone." Then shejumped out of the SUV. I don't even think I had come to a complete stop yet.
Remi had a gun in one hand, a flashlight in her back pocket and a knife in the other.
I grabbed what I needed and ran after her, Jack not far behind.
CHAPTER 70
AVA - LIVES I TOOK
I didn’t stop running.
Branches clawed at my arms, thorns biting through skin, but I didn’t feel it. Not really. I just knew I had to move. Faster. Farther. Away.
The trees swallowed me whole, the smoke still clinging to my back like it was trying to drag me home. My chest ached, lungs burning from the fire, from panic, from too many minutes without air. My vision tunnelled, every sound too loud, every crunch of underbrush a warning... a threat, every whisper of leaves a breath behind me.
I didn’t know where I was going.
Only where I couldn’t go back to.
A gunshot cracked through the woods.
I didn't know who it belonged to, only that it wasn't mine.
Was Gray ok?
Had Harlan made it back?
I didn't know.
Just that the gunshots felt like more than a threat.
They were closer.
My legs felt like Jello below me... like if I tried to regain control, it would be over.
I felt something dripping down my hairline, and I prayed it was sweat and not blood.
Another shot rang out.
I jolted at the closeness, and then I pitched forward.
I hit the ground hard, tucked behind a fallen log, my hands shaking as I curled around the gun still clenched in my grip.
God, I still had the gun.
Another shot. Closer. Footsteps now. More than one. Male voices, swearing. Laughing.
No... please no.
They were hunting.
