Ava's breath came in sharp, ragged gasps as she plunged deeper into the forest, the darkness closing in around her like a suffocating shroud. The ground beneath her feet was uneven, roots and rocks jutting out from the earth like hidden traps, but she didn't dare slow down. Behind her, the roar of the flames from the burning SUV illuminated the night, casting flickering shadows that danced like ghosts in the trees.
Her thoughts were a frantic whirl, driven by the singular need to survive. The men who had taken her were still out there, hunting her like prey, and every instinct told her that they wouldn't stop until she was caught. But Ava wasn't ready to give up. Not yet. Not when Jaxon was still out there, relying on her to make it through this alive.
The forest was a labyrinth of twisting paths and dense underbrush, each turn offering new obstacles, new threats. The trees loomed above her like silent sentinels, their branches clawing at the sky, blocking out what little light the moon offered. Ava's vision was blurred by exhaustion, but she forced herself to keep moving, to push past the fear and pain that threatened to consume her.
Her mind raced through the events of the past few hours, trying to make sense of the chaos. The explosion had been unexpected, a stroke of luck in the midst of a nightmare, but it hadn't bought her much time. She knew they'd be on her trail soon, if they weren't already.
Ava's ears strained for any sound, any hint that the men were closing in on her. But the forest was eerily quiet, the only noise the crunch of leaves underfoot and the rapid thudding of her heart. The silence unnerved her more than the pursuit she couldn't tell where they were, couldn't gauge how close they might be.
She veered off the main path, plunging into a thicket of trees where the darkness was even more oppressive. Her breathing was harsh in the stillness, and she tried to muffle it as best she could. She needed to find a place to hide, to catch her breath and regroup, but the forest offered little in the way of refuge.
Ava forced herself to slow down, just enough to assess her surroundings. The trees were tightly packed here, their trunks thick and gnarled, the ground covered in a blanket of fallen leaves. She scanned the area, searching for anything that might offer cover, and her gaze fell on a cluster of rocks just a few yards ahead, partially hidden by a tangle of thorny bushes.
Without hesitating, Ava crouched low and made her way toward the rocks, her movements careful and deliberate. She winced as the thorns snagged her clothes and scratched her skin, but she pressed on, pushing her way through the undergrowth until she reached the small clearing behind the rocks.
She crouched down, her back pressed against the cold stone, and forced herself to stay still, to listen. The seconds dragged on, each one stretching out like an eternity, but the forest remained silent. It was almost as if the world had stopped, holding its breath along with her.
Ava's mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan, something to get her out of this alive. She needed to find a way back to civilization, to contact someone,anyone who could help. But she had no idea where she was, and the thought of wandering aimlessly through the woods only to stumble back into the hands of her captors filled her with dread.
The thought of Jaxon gave her the strength to push forward. He was still out there, still fighting, and she had to find a way back to him. She couldn't let these men win. Not after everything they'd been through.
A rustle in the bushes nearby made her freeze, her breath catching in her throat. The sound was faint, but unmistakable someone was moving through the underbrush, and they were close.
Too close.
Ava's pulse quickened, her body tensing as she pressed herself deeper into the shadows. She could hear the muffled voices now, low and urgent, but the words were too far away to make out. Panic surged through her veins, but she fought to keep it under control. She had to stay calm, had to think clearly if she was going to survive this.
The voices drew nearer, the footsteps crunching on the dry leaves. Ava's fingers dug into the dirt, her nails biting into the soil as she braced herself. She knew that if they found her, there would be no escape. The men were armed, and she was trapped, with nowhere to run.
The footsteps slowed, and Ava's breath caught in her throat. They were right on the other side of the rocks now, so close that she could hear the faint crackle of their radios as they communicated in low tones. Her heart pounded in her chest, the fear threatening to choke her, but she forced herself to stay still, to blend into the darkness.
She closed her eyes, praying that they would pass by, that the shadows would be enough to conceal her. Every muscle in her body was tense, ready to spring into action at the slightest sign of danger, but she knew that any movement could give her away.
The seconds dragged on, each one an eternity as she waited, barely daring to breathe.
And then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the footsteps began to move away, the voices growing fainter as the men continued their search elsewhere. Ava remained frozen in place, her body trembling with the effort to stay silent. She didn't dare move, didn't dare risk making a sound.
Finally, when she was certain they were gone, Ava let out a slow, shaky breath, her body sagging with relief. The danger hadn't passed not by a long shot,but she had a few precious moments to gather her strength, to figure out her next move.
Her mind raced as she tried to formulate a plan, something that would get her out of these woods and back to safety. She knew she couldn't stay hidden forever they would keep searching until they found her. And the longer she stayed in one place, the greater the chance that they would circle back.
Ava scanned the area, her eyes flicking between the trees as she searched for any sign of movement. The forest was still, the shadows deep and impenetrable. She knew she had to keep moving, to put as much distance between herself and the men as possible.
But just as she began to stand, a twig snapped somewhere behind her, the sound sharp and clear in the silence.
Ava's heart lurched, her body tensing as she spun around, her eyes straining to see through the darkness. The trees loomed ominously, their branches twisting into jagged shapes that seemed to reach out toward her. But there was nothing no movement, no sign of anyone nearby.
And then she heard it a faint, almost imperceptible whisper, carried on the wind.
"Ava..."
Her blood ran cold, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. The voice was familiar, but distorted, as if it were coming from far away, or from a place just beyond her reach.
"Ava..."
This time, the voice was clearer, more insistent, and Ava's heart pounded as she turned in a slow circle, trying to pinpoint its source. But the darkness was impenetrable, the shadows stretching out in every direction.
She was trapped, caught in a nightmare with no way out.
Ava took a step back, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The voice was closer now, echoing in her mind, growing louder with each passing second.
"Ava..."
She couldn't tell if it was real or if her mind was playing tricks on her, but the terror was all consuming, a suffocating presence that threatened to overwhelm her.
Her hands trembled as she fumbled for the pocket of her jacket, her fingers closing around the small, cold object she'd almost forgotten she had Jaxon's emergency beacon. He'd given it to her in case of situations just like this, a last-ditch effort to summon help when there was no other option.
Her thumb hovered over the button, the weight of the decision pressing down on her like a physical force. She knew that activating it would give away her position, but it would also send a signal to the one person she knew would come for her, no matter the cost.
Jaxon.
With a deep, steadying breath, Ava closed her eyes and pressed the button.
The beacon emitted a faint, pulsing light, the signal strong and sure as it cut through the night. Ava could only hope that Jaxon would see it, that he was still out there, still searching for her.
The voice fell silent, the forest growing still once more. Ava's heart pounded in her chest as she clutched the beacon to her chest, praying that she had made the right choice.
But as the seconds ticked by, the doubt began to creep in. She had no idea if Jaxon was even close enough to see the signal, if he was in any position to help her. And now, she had revealed herself to whoever was out there, waiting in the darkness.
And then, from somewhere in the distance, she heard it a faint, rhythmic thumping, growing louder with each passing second.
Her breath caught in her throat as she realized what it was.
A helicopter.
Ava's heart soared with a mixture of hope and fear as the sound grew closer, the unmistakable whir of rotor blades cutting through the air. She craned her neck, searching the sky for any sign of the aircraft, but the trees blocked her view.
The men would hear it too. They would know where she was.
She had to move.