Chapter 106

The morning air was sharp, crisp with the scent of pine as Amanda and Ron moved swiftly through the dense forest, their boots crunching softly on the frost-covered ground. The sun had barely risen, casting long shadows across the path, but there was no time to enjoy the beauty of the dawn. Their only focus was on getting Nathan to safety—and staying one step ahead of their enemies.

Amanda glanced back at Ron, who was carrying most of Nathan’s weight. Despite the toll the last few days had taken on all of them, Ron moved with steady determination, his face set in grim resolve. Nathan was barely conscious, his body limp as Ron half-dragged, half-carried him through the thick undergrowth. Each labored breath from Nathan was a reminder of just how critical their situation had become.

“We need to move faster,” Amanda urged, her eyes scanning the forest around them. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig put her on edge. She could feel the danger closing in, a constant pressure at the back of her mind. They were being hunted—there was no doubt about that.

Ron grunted in response, adjusting his grip on Nathan. “I know,” he said, his voice strained. “But he won’t make it much longer at this pace.”

Amanda’s heart clenched with frustration. Nathan’s condition was worsening by the hour, and while the old ranger station had offered them a brief respite, it hadn’t been enough. They had no radio, no way to call for help, and no idea how far their enemies had spread.

“We’re close to the river,” Ron continued. “Once we cross, we’ll be harder to track.”

Amanda nodded, though the knot of anxiety in her chest tightened. The river would slow them down, but it was their best chance to throw off their pursuers. They just had to hope they could reach it in time.

As they pushed deeper into the woods, Amanda’s mind wandered to how different things had been just a few months ago. She had been a university student then, focused on her classes, her future, her ordinary life. Ron had been just an executive director, a man she had loved but never expected to be pulled into a world like this with. Everything had seemed so simple, so safe. She missed that—the normalcy, the routine. She missed not having to look over her shoulder at every turn, not living in fear of what was lurking around the next corner.

But that life felt so far away now, almost like a dream. Too much had changed. Too much had been taken from them.

Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed through the forest—the unmistakable sound of a gunshot. Amanda’s heart skipped a beat as she ducked instinctively, her eyes widening with alarm.

“They’ve found us!” Ron shouted, his voice urgent. He tightened his grip on Nathan and started moving faster, his body tensed for the inevitable confrontation.

Amanda unslung her rifle, her fingers tightening around the cool metal. “Keep moving!” she yelled, falling into step beside them as they bolted through the trees.

Another shot rang out, this one closer, whizzing past Amanda’s head and striking a nearby tree with a dull thud. Her heart pounded in her chest as adrenaline surged through her veins. They couldn’t outrun them—not like this.

“We need to find cover!” she shouted, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She scanned the area frantically, looking for anything that might offer them some kind of advantage.

“There!” Ron pointed to a rocky outcrop ahead, its jagged edges providing just enough protection for a temporary hideout.

Without hesitation, Amanda sprinted ahead, her legs burning with exertion as she ducked behind the rocks. Ron followed, carefully lowering Nathan to the ground before taking position beside her. They both pressed their backs against the stone, breathing hard, weapons ready.

The forest had gone deathly silent, save for the distant sound of footsteps closing in. Amanda’s pulse pounded in her ears as she peered around the edge of the rocks, her eyes narrowing as she spotted movement in the distance. Four figures were moving through the trees, their weapons raised, their eyes scanning the area.

Ron’s jaw clenched. “We can’t hold them off like this. They’ll flush us out.”

Amanda swallowed hard, her mind racing. “What if we split up? I can draw them away—lead them into the river. You get Nathan across and find shelter.”

Ron turned to her, his eyes dark with worry. “No. It’s too dangerous. You’ll be outnumbered.”

“We’re already outnumbered,” she shot back, her voice firm. “We don’t have a choice. They’re going to find us if we stay here.”

For a moment, Ron didn’t respond, his expression torn between his fear for her and the harsh reality of their situation. Then, finally, he nodded.

“Be careful,” he said quietly, his hand brushing hers.

“I will,” Amanda promised, her heart aching with the weight of what she was about to do. But there was no other way.

With one last look at Ron, she bolted from behind the rocks, her body low as she zigzagged through the trees. The sound of gunfire exploded behind her, and she ducked, narrowly avoiding a bullet as it whizzed past her shoulder. She kept running, her feet pounding against the forest floor, her breath coming in short, frantic bursts.

She didn’t look back. She couldn’t afford to.

Amanda veered sharply to the left, heading toward the sound of rushing water. She could hear the footsteps following her now, the men closing in fast. But she was faster—she had to be.

The river appeared ahead, its churning waters glinting in the early morning light. Without hesitating, Amanda plunged into the icy water, the shock of it stealing her breath. She waded through as quickly as she could, her legs burning as the current tugged at her.

Behind her, she could hear the men shouting, their voices distorted by the roar of the river. She glanced over her shoulder just in time to see them reaching the bank, their weapons raised.

Amanda ducked low, moving with the current, hoping the water would obscure her. She could feel her muscles screaming in protest, her body exhausted from the exertion, but she pushed forward, her only thought on getting to the other side.

When she finally reached the far bank, she pulled herself out of the water, her clothes soaked and clinging to her skin. She crouched low behind a cluster of rocks, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she listened to the sounds of the men splashing into the river after her.

They were close—too close.

Amanda’s grip tightened on her rifle as she prepared for the inevitable. She had led them away, bought Ron and Nathan some time, but now it was up to her to survive.

And she would fight with everything she had.