The clay wall that Savannah had been clinging to for support suddenly came to an abrupt halt.
Her breath got stuck in her throat as she looked at the steep hill ahead. The ground went up sharply, all jagged and dangerous, with no easy way out.
Her heart pounded like crazy, so loud it felt like it was drowning out everything else in the quiet forest. Her hands were shaking as she pressed them against the rough wall, her fingers sinking into the cold dirt while her mind raced.
Could she climb up? Could she make it in time?
She swallowed hard and lifted her head, trying to hear for any sign of movement from behind.
Silence.
Had they lost her? Were they still looking for her?
A flicker of hope lit up inside her. Maybe, just maybe, she could get away before they caught her. Not wanting to waste any more time, she slowly turned around and took another path, sticking close to the wall.
Her bare feet barely made a sound on the damp forest ground, but every step felt dangerously loud in her own ears.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the dirt below, looking for anything that could trip her up—rocks, roots, you name it. Falling now would be bad, especially since she was so close to—
Her body suddenly froze.
A pair of black leather boots appeared right in front of her.
A slow, dark chuckle broke the silence.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Savannah's blood ran cold. She didn't need to look up to know who it was.
His voice was smooth but full of cruel amusement—it was Rodriguez.
She breath hitched as she forced herself to meet his gaze.
Rodriguez loomed tall and threatening, arms crossed over his big chest, grinning like he'd just hit the jackpot.
She had walked right into his trap.
Fuck it.
Something moved above her. His guys—three or four of them—dropped down from the higher ledge, cutting off any other escape routes.
Rodriguez sighed loudly, shaking his head like he was disappointed. "For a second there, I thought we lost you," he said, taking a slow, deliberate step toward her. "But here you are. Trapped."
Savannah's breathing sped up, her instincts yelling at her to run, but there was no place left to go.
Rodriguez moved closer, reaching out his hand.
"Come with me, darling." His voice was mocking, but there was a dangerous edge to it. The kind that promised pain if she didn't do what he said.
His men laughed behind him, enjoying the sight of her helplessness.
Savannah's hands curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. No. She wasn't going to let him take her.
Not without a fight.
Just as Rodriguez's hand reached for her hair, she lunged forward—
And hurled a handful of clay right in his face.
Rodriguez roared in anger as the wet mud splattered across his eyes and mouth, blinding him for a moment.
He stumbled backward, swearing loudly, his hands swiping at his face.
His men rushed over, shocked by their boss's outburst. "Boss?!" One of them knelt to check on him.
Savannah's heart raced.
Now was her chance.
Without thinking twice, she bent down, grabbed more clay, and tossed it at the men coming at her.
The dirt and sand hit them in the face, making them stagger back, groaning and cursing as they rubbed their stinging, burning eyes.
Run.
Savannah didn't need to think twice.
She spun around and took off running.
Her legs were screaming in pain, her feet kept slipping on the rough forest ground, but she pushed herself to go faster anyway.
Behind her, Rodriguez let out a deep, angry growl as he finally got a clear view.
"Fucking bitch!" he snarled, his voice full of pure anger. "Get her! Now!"
Adrenaline pumped through Savannah's body as she ran deeper into the forest, dodging between the thick trees. The sharp branches scratched her bare skin, but she didn't stop.
She couldn't stop.
The sound of heavy, quick footsteps thundered behind her.
Rodriguez was catching up.
Her breath came out in short, ragged gasps, and her throat felt like it was on fire. She had no idea where she was headed. She didn't care.
All she knew was that if they caught her...
She wouldn't make it out alive.
This was it.
Either she figured out how to get away, or this forest would be her final resting place.
Savannah's legs were on fire from being so tired, but she didn't stop. She couldn't. The thick, dark forest went on forever, leading her into the unknown, but she didn't care.
All that mattered was getting away from Rodriguez.
The thought of him catching her, his hands grabbing her again, made her stomach turn with fear. She knew what would happen if he got his hands on her again—she'd be as good as dead, a living corpse under his control.
A new thought popped into her head. Blaze.
Would he come for her?
She hoped so.
She hoped he'd find her just like last time, when she ran through these woods, fighting for her life. She wished—no, she prayed—that Blaze would show up, strong and steady, ready to save her from this nightmare.
But the longer she ran, the more hopeless she felt.
There was no sign of him. Nobody was coming.
The ground under her bare feet suddenly shifted beneath her bare feet. The trees opened up, revealing an open space.
She slowed down.
Something felt off.
Everything was too tidy, too quiet, too weird.
When she stopped, her eyes went wide with fear.
Dead end.
In front of her was a cliff, and below, the dark sea crashed against sharp rocks. The wind blew hard, almost knocking her over.
Savannah stepped closer and ran her trembling hand through her messy hair, as she breath heavily.
She was trapped. Once again.
Should she go back?
Or should she jump?
Her mind spun in circles. Either way, she wasn't making it out unharmed.
The forest behind her wasn't safe anymore. But could she survive the fall into the ocean? Would she stand a chance against those crashing waves?
Before she could decide, a voice broke the silence.
"Where is she?"
Savannah's body froze.
Slowly, she turned her head toward the sound.
Rodriguez.
And his men. They had caught up.
Her heart pounded painfully against her ribs, and she quickly crouched behind a large, thick tree, pressing herself against the rough bark.
From where she was hiding, she peeked out.
Rodriguez was standing at the edge of the cliff, looking down at the ocean below. His face was impossible to read.
"Could she really have jumped...?" one of his guys asked.
Rodriguez squinted his dangerous, calculating eyes at the waves, then scanned the area around him.
"She's here," he said firmly. "She must be hiding somewhere. Find her."
His men split up right away, searching everywhere.
Savannah's heart was racing, and her body was shaking. She covered her mouth with both hands to stop herself from making any noise.
Slowly, she shifted away from her current hiding spot, inching toward another large tree a few feet away, silent, careful.
Five minutes.
That's how long she stayed still—hidden, praying they wouldn't find her.
Then came footsteps.
Louder this time. Closer.
Her breath caught uneven in her throat.
She turned slightly to peek behind her. Her heart hammering, and she saw Rodriguez's guys moving deeper into the forest.
They were checking every spot.
But at the same time-new footsteps approached from in front of her.
These were different—more disciplined, heavier.
She listened hard.
These weren't Rodriguez's guys.
The sound was coming from the ocean side.
Savannah's eyes went wide.
Her body tensed up. She was stuck between choices she didn't want to make.
She looked back at the forest. Rodriguez's men were vanishing into the trees.
Then she faced the cliff, staring down at the wild ocean below.
The only way out was... down.
She took a deep, steadying breath, preparing herself to jump.
Then-
"Search the whole area!"
A familiar voice.
A voice she had longed to hear.
Savannah's heart stopped.
She whipped her head around toward the voice, and there they were—men in combat gear, armed to the teeth.
And there, standing at the edge of the cliff, looking down at the ocean with a fierce, stormy expression, was Blaze.
Savannah's breath caught in her throat.
He was here.
She knew he'd come for her.
Her knees nearly gave out from relief, but she pushed forward, stepping out from her hiding spot.
Her voice cracked as she called out—
"Blaze!"
His head snapped toward her.
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, everything froze.
Blaze's expression shifted instantly, from anger to something else—something that looked almost painful.
His eyes scanned her—the blood on her forehead, the dirt on her skin, the ripped clothes.
Savannah took another step forward, moving toward him.
And everything came to an end.
BANG!
A single gunshot echoed out in the night.
Savannah froze in her track.
For a split second, everything fell silent.
Then, a warm sensation spread through her abdomen.
Her lips parted as she looked down.
A dark red splotch spread over her stomach, blood soaking her torn blouse.
Her hands trembled as she lifted them, pressing against the wound-
Only for her fingers to came out soaked in crimson.
Her vision blurred.
Her knees buckled.
Before she knew what hit her, the world around her tilted violently.
She was falling.
Author's Note :
Thankyou for reading<3
Ig it's a hurried chapter:(
Have a good day/night <3<3