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“Come on.”
I strained my ears for any signs of danger or movement. The quiet rustle of leaves and distant call of nocturnal creatures only served to heighten my anxiety, but I forced myself to focus.
“Hello? Anyone here?” My voice was barely audible, even to myself. No response. For a second, I thought about taking off and running into the trees, but even if I did manage to get away, it was the fucking Everglades. I would die out there on foot.
I felt a knot of dread tighten in my stomach. Time was running out, and I couldn’t afford to hesitate any longer.
As I stepped closer to the truck, I caught a whiff of something that made my stomach turn. Blood. That unmistakable metallic scent that set my teeth on edge and sent prickles of fear down my spine. It was the scent that Teo hated the most; it made him sick to his stomach.
I clamped down on my own revulsion, forcing myself to keep moving forward. The truck was empty, or so it seemed at first glance. But as I peered into the bed, I could see something moving in the shadows.
My heart skipped a beat as I saw a figure bound and gagged, struggling weakly against their restraints. Relief flooded through me as I recognized Miranda’s features.
I walked up to her, crouching so I would make as little noise as possible. “Miranda!” I hissed, trying to keep my voice low. She flinched at the sound, but her eyes went wide with recognition as she saw me. “I’m gonna get you out of here, okay? Just stay quiet.”
Miranda nodded, and I let out a small sigh of relief. I quickly set to work untying the ropes that bound her wrists and ankles, my fingers working deftly despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. As the last knot came undone, I could see the blood rushing back into her skin, and I knew we didn’t have much time.
“Can you walk?” I asked. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m not,” she said. “I can walk.”
I pulled her to her feet, and she stumbled slightly, leaning on me for support.
“Alright, follow me,” I urged, leading her towards the ramp and then out of the truck, away from the cabin. “We need to move fast and stay low. Keep quiet and don’t stop until I say so, got it?”
“Why are you back for me?” she asked.
“Because Sofia would kill me if I wasn’t,” I replied. “Come on. We can talk about this later.”
“Right,” she said.
As we continued our escape, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. But there was no time to dwell on it. There was only one priority now: getting Miranda – and myself – out of this nightmare alive.
The darkness of the Everglades closed in around us, the sounds of unseen creatures filling my ears as we pressed forward. My heart hammered in my chest, adrenaline fueling every step I took as I gripped Miranda’s arm tightly. “Keep moving,” I whispered, my voice barely audible as I scanned our surroundings, searching for any sign of danger. The humid air clung to my skin, making it difficult to breathe, but fear kept me focused.
“Jace, I...I don’t know if I can keep up,” Miranda said between pants, her face pale beneath the moonlight.
“You keep up or you die,” I said, my mind racing with thoughts of the Viper and the consequences of our escape.
We pressed forward, the sounds of twigs snapping under our feet echoing in the silence. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that we were being followed, and the fear of encountering the Viper’s men around every turn made my pulse race.
As we forged ahead, the terrain grew more treacherous, thick vines and murky water threatening to slow our progress. I could feel the weight of time pressing down on us, each second that passed increasing the likelihood of being detected.
“Wait,” I whispered suddenly, my eyes catching sight of something up ahead. It took me a few seconds to process what I was seeing; I’d seen plenty of downed bodies, but never in a swamp, and it had never ever been him.
My breath caught in my throat as I recognized the crumpled form lying on the road – Victor.
He was lying still, his body contorted in an unnatural position. His face was pale and his shirt covered with blood. The radio crackled next to him.
“No,” I whispered, my heart racing.
“What is it?” Miranda asked, her voice full of panic. “What’s wrong?”
I clenched my teeth, determined to keep us safe and hidden in the shadows. If we were seen out here, we would be killed for sure.
“It’s Victor,” I said quietly.
“The scary one?”
