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“Looks like we’ve got company,” I said.
“Stay calm,” Teo urged, his gaze never leaving the men. “We’ll figure a way out of this.”
One of them laughed. “Yeah, sure you will, bud,” he said.
I could feel Teo’s body tense as he assessed the situation. Miranda was shaking beside me, her eyes wide with fear.
As I stared down the barrels of the guns aimed at us, the only thing I could think was that we’d have to be very, very lucky to make it out of this alive.
“Drop your weapons,” the leader of the group ordered, his voice low and menacing. “There’s no way out for you. Or, actually, don’t drop them. Give me a reason.”
Teo’s jaw clenched, his eyes darting between the men and us. I could practically see the gears turning in his head as he weighed our options. Inwardly, I urged him to come up with a miracle plan. Anything to get us out of this alive.
“Alright,” Teo said reluctantly, raising his hands in surrender after he dropped his weapon to the ground. “We’ll drop our guns. No one has to get hurt. You too, Sof.”
I really hoped this was part of his miracle plan. I dropped my gun to the muddy floor.
“Okay, good. Now kick them toward us,” the man said. Teo kicked his gun forward, sending it skidding across the grass toward the leader. Reluctantly, I did the same, my stomach churning with fear.
“Good,” the man said, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Now let’s have some fun.”
He gestured to two of his henchmen, who approached us with rough hands and cruel smirks. I braced myself for what was to come.
But then Teo moved in between us and the men, his expression darkening with fury.
“You touch them and you’ll regret it,” he growled, his muscles tense and ready for action.
The men laughed, but there was something in Teo’s eyes that made them pause momentarily.
“Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do about it?” one asked.
Before I could even blink, Teo had lunged at him, his fists flying in a blur of motion that took the man down in seconds. Teo reached for the gun in his hands and, with the man in a headlock, somehow managed to pull the trigger as he sprayed bullets around the other Before I could even blink, Teo had lunged at him, his fists flying in a blur of motion that took the man down in seconds.
Teo picked his head up to look at me. “Run,“ he said.
The way he said it made my blood run cold. I grabbed Miranda by the wrist, trying to pull her forward with me, but she wasn’t moving. I didn’t have time to usher her forward with me. “C’mon,” I said.
She didn’t do anything. She didn’t move, her feet were just planted there. I had to make a split decision as Teo’s gaze found mine again.
I wanted to say I was sorry, but there was no time. I took off into the forest during the confusion of the scuffle and left Miranda behind. I could hear sounds of fighting behind me, but I didn’t dare look back. My heart was beating so fast, it felt like it might explode out of my chest at any moment.
I ran as fast as I could, my feet pounding against the ground. The darkness of the night felt like it was closing in around me, suffocating and unyielding. Tears streamed down my face as I imagined the worst happening to Teo and Miranda.
But I couldn’t afford to stop for even a second. I kept pushing forward, my mind racing with hopes and fears warring for dominance. Somehow, some way, I had to find a way out of this swamp alive.
As if on cue, gunfire erupted behind me. The deafening cracks and explosions sent chills up my spine. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, heart pounding in my chest like a war drum.
“Shit, shit, shit,” I muttered, forcing my legs to move faster, even as they threatened to give out from exhaustion.
“Get her, boys!” one of the armed men shouted in the distance, their voices barely discernible amidst the chaos.
That wasn’t encouraging. What had happened to Teo? Where was he? I couldn’t even think about it.
“Damn it,” I hissed, pushing myself harder, knowing I couldn’t afford to slow down, not even for a second. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to turn back, to help Teo and Miranda, but I knew I had to trust Teo’s plan.
“Stay focused,” I told myself, trying to quiet the panic threatening to overtake me. “One step at a time.”
“Come on, princess! You really think you can outrun us?” another man taunted, his laughter carrying through the trees.
