Thought I found her.
Thought—
“Clay.”
Russ’s voice stays calm behind me.
Controlled.
Grounded.
I don’t feel grounded.
Not even close.
Because all I can think is—
She was here.
And now she’s gone again.
9
Hannah
The convoy moves before sunrise.
I know because the air outside is colder when they drag me from the room.
Sharp enough to sting my lungs.
The compound behind us sits dark beneath the fading night sky as armed men shove me toward the back of another transport truck.
Bigger this time.
Military-grade.
Canvas covered.
Definitely heading somewhere worse.
One of the guards grabs my arm tighter when I hesitate near the open doors.
“Move.”
I climb in without arguing.
Because arguing wastes energy.
And because I’m already studying everything around me.
Four vehicles total.
At least twelve armed men.
Two mounted guns.
Organized.
