Chapter 96

The gunfire reverberated through the small cabin, each shot pounding in Amanda’s ears as splinters of wood flew around them. The attackers were closing in, and she knew they had only seconds to make a decision.

“We need to move!” Ron shouted over the gunfire, his voice urgent and steady.

Amanda nodded, her mind racing as she weighed their options. The cabin had only one entrance, but there was a narrow window in the back room—a potential escape route if they could reach it. She glanced down at Nathan, who was struggling to stay conscious, his breathing labored and uneven.

“Ron, cover me,” Amanda called out, making a split-second decision. “I’m getting Nathan to the back.”

Ron didn’t hesitate. He fired off a few shots through the front door, keeping the attackers at bay as Amanda hauled Nathan to his feet. Nathan groaned in pain, his legs barely supporting him, but he managed to lean on Amanda as she guided him toward the back room.

The cabin was small, and the distance to the window felt agonizingly long as the gunfire continued to pepper the walls. The attackers weren’t letting up—they were determined to take Nathan down, and anyone standing in their way.

“Hang in there, Nathan,” Amanda whispered, half dragging, half carrying him as they reached the window. She quickly assessed the situation—the window was just large enough for them to squeeze through, but they needed to move fast.

Ron backed up toward them, firing a few more shots before retreating to the back room. “Amanda, go! I’ll hold them off!”

Amanda didn’t argue. She helped Nathan to the window, pushing it open with a grunt of effort. The cool night air rushed in, bringing with it the scent of pine and damp earth. For a brief moment, she was reminded of all the times she and Ron had used this cabin as a refuge, a place of safety. But now, it was a trap.

“Nathan, you first,” Amanda urged, helping him climb through the window. He struggled, his strength waning, but with Amanda’s help, he managed to get his upper body through. She gave him a final push, and he tumbled out onto the soft ground below.

Amanda scrambled after him, glancing back at Ron, who was still firing at the attackers. “Ron, come on!”

Ron nodded, firing off one last shot before turning and diving through the window. He landed beside Amanda, and together they pulled Nathan further away from the cabin, using the cover of the trees.

They could hear the footsteps of the attackers inside the cabin now, their voices low and menacing. It was only a matter of time before they realized their targets had escaped.

“This way,” Ron whispered, pulling Amanda and Nathan deeper into the forest. “We need to put some distance between us and them.”

Amanda nodded, her adrenaline pumping as they moved quickly through the underbrush. Nathan stumbled beside her, but she kept a firm grip on him, refusing to let him fall behind. They couldn’t afford to stop—not until they were sure they were safe.

As they ran, Amanda’s mind raced. The attackers were clearly professionals, relentless and well-armed. If they were this determined to eliminate Nathan, it meant he had something they wanted—or something they couldn’t afford to let him keep.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached a small clearing deep in the woods. The sounds of pursuit had faded, but Amanda knew they couldn’t rest easy. They were still in danger, and Nathan was in no condition to keep running.

“We need to hide him,” Ron said, his breathing heavy as he scanned the area. “They’re going to keep coming.”

Amanda looked around, her eyes landing on a dense thicket at the edge of the clearing. “Over there,” she said, pointing. “We can hide him in the brush. It’ll buy us some time.”

Together, they led Nathan to the thicket, carefully lowering him to the ground. His eyes fluttered open, and he looked at Amanda with a mixture of pain and gratitude.

“I’m sorry,” Nathan whispered, his voice barely audible. “I never wanted to drag you into this.”

Amanda shook her head, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “It’s not your fault, Nathan. We’re going to get you out of this.”

Nathan tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace. “You always were the strong one, Amanda. Don’t let them win.”

She squeezed his hand, a silent promise passing between them. Then, she stood up, turning to Ron. “What now?”

Ron checked the magazine in his gun, his expression determined. “We set a trap. They’ll follow us into the forest, but if we can take them by surprise, we might stand a chance.”

Amanda nodded, her resolve hardening. They had been in tough situations before, but this felt different—more desperate, more personal. But they couldn’t afford to dwell on that now. They needed to act, and fast.

“Let’s do it,” Amanda said, her voice firm.

As they moved to set up their ambush, the forest around them seemed to close in, the shadows deepening. The air was thick with tension, every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig putting them on edge. The attackers were out there, hunting them, but Amanda knew they couldn’t back down. Not now.

They were about to enter the abyss, and there was no turning back.
The forest seemed to hold its breath as Amanda and Ron quickly worked to set their trap, using the terrain to their advantage. They positioned themselves behind a large, moss-covered boulder, giving them a clear view of the path the attackers would likely take. Ron handed Amanda an extra clip, their fingers brushing briefly, a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of what they were about to face.

“We hit them hard and fast,” Ron whispered, his eyes locked on the shadows ahead. “No hesitation.”

Amanda nodded, her grip tightening on the gun. Her pulse pounded in her ears, but her mind was sharp, focused. The footsteps were getting closer now, crunching through the underbrush. This was it—the moment of truth. They would face whatever came next together, with no regrets.