Ava's pulse quickened as the sound of the helicopter grew louder, the rhythmic thumping reverberating through the dense forest. The moment she had activated the beacon, she knew she had started a countdown one that could either save her life or seal her fate. The beacon's light continued to pulse in her hand, a fragile lifeline in the darkness, but it was also a beacon for her pursuers. They were out there, closing in, and she was running out of time.
She had to move, and fast.
Pushing herself to her feet, Ava shoved the beacon into her jacket pocket and started running. The forest was a blur around her as she sprinted through the trees, her breath coming in sharp, shallow gasps. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, but she ignored the pain, focusing solely on the need to keep moving, to stay ahead of the danger that lurked just out of sight.
The helicopter was getting closer, the sound of its rotors cutting through the night, but Ava knew she couldn't rely on it alone. The men chasing her would hear it too, and they wouldn't stop until they had her in their grasp. She had to make it to an open area, somewhere visible from above, where she could signal the pilot.
But the forest was thick, the canopy overhead blocking out any view of the sky. The branches reached out like skeletal fingers, snagging her clothes, tearing at her skin, but she pressed on, driven by sheer willpower.
A flash of movement caught her eye, and Ava's heart lurched as she spotted one of the men through the trees. He was only a few yards away, his silhouette barely visible in the shadows, but it was enough to send a jolt of fear through her veins. They were closer than she'd thought.
She veered sharply to the left, her feet slipping on the uneven ground as she tried to put more distance between them. The sound of pursuit grew louder, the crunch of leaves and snapping of twigs a constant reminder that they were gaining on her. Ava pushed herself harder, her legs burning with the effort, but she knew she couldn't keep this pace for long.
Just as the panic threatened to overwhelm her, the trees began to thin, the forest opening up into a small clearing. Ava's heart soared with a mixture of relief and fear this was her chance, but it also left her exposed.
Without slowing down, she burst into the clearing, her eyes scanning the sky for any sign of the helicopter. The rotors were deafening now, the wind from the blades whipping through the clearing as the aircraft hovered above the treetops.
Ava skidded to a stop in the center of the clearing, her chest heaving as she fumbled to pull the beacon from her pocket. She had only seconds to get the pilot's attention before the men reached her. Her hands shook as she held up the beacon, the light pulsing steadily as she waved it back and forth.
"Please see me," she whispered, her voice lost in the roar of the helicopter. "Please..."
For a moment, it felt like the world had frozen, every second stretching out into an eternity as she waited, praying that the pilot would spot her.
Then, like a miracle, the helicopter began to descend, the powerful downdraft flattening the grass around her as the aircraft lowered toward the clearing. Ava's heart leapt in her chest, hope surging through her veins.
But just as quickly, that hope was dashed.
The men burst into the clearing behind her, their shouts echoing in the night as they spotted her. Ava's blood ran cold as she realized they were too close there was no way she could make it to the helicopter before they reached her.
She spun around, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the determined, ruthless expressions on their faces. They were armed, their guns glinting in the dim light, and she knew that this was it there was no more running.
But she wasn't ready to give up.
With a burst of adrenaline, Ava sprinted toward the helicopter, her legs burning with the effort. The wind from the rotors buffeted her, but she didn't slow down, didn't dare look back.
"Get down!" a voice bellowed from the helicopter, and Ava barely had time to register the command before gunfire erupted from behind her. The sharp cracks of the shots cut through the air, and she threw herself to the ground, her hands covering her head as the bullets whizzed overhead.
The pilot must have seen her signal and understood the gravity of the situation. As she lay there, the helicopter swung around, the side door sliding open to reveal a figure clad in tactical gear. The muzzle of a rifle jutted from the open door, and a flurry of suppressive fire rained down on the men in the clearing.
Ava risked a glance back and saw the men diving for cover, their assault momentarily halted by the unexpected firepower. The pilot brought the helicopter in closer, the aircraft hovering just above the ground, the downdraft from the rotors whipping up dust and debris.
"Move, Ava!" the voice from the helicopter shouted. "Get to the chopper, now!"
Ava didn't need to be told twice. She scrambled to her feet, her legs shaking with exhaustion as she sprinted toward the helicopter. The men behind her were recovering, their shouts growing more desperate as they realized they were losing her.
Just as Ava reached the helicopter, a hand shot out, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her inside. The figure in tactical gear hauled her up with surprising strength, and Ava collapsed onto the floor of the chopper, gasping for breath.
"Hold on!" the voice yelled again, this time from the cockpit, and the helicopter shot upward, lifting off just as the men in the clearing opened fire again. Bullets pinged off the fuselage, but the helicopter's armor held, the aircraft soaring into the night sky.
Ava's heart pounded in her chest as she lay on the floor, her body trembling with a mixture of relief and adrenaline. She was safe for now.
The figure in tactical gear knelt beside her, pulling off his helmet to reveal a familiar face. Ava's breath caught in her throat as she looked up into the eyes of Caleb.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice tight with concern.
Ava nodded, too overwhelmed to speak. She had been so sure that Caleb was still back in the warehouse, that she would never see him again. But here he was, rescuing her when she had thought all hope was lost.
"Jaxon?" Ava finally managed to choke out, her voice hoarse. "Where's Jaxon?"
Caleb's expression darkened, his jaw clenching. "He's still out there. We got separated when the fighting started. I had to come after you."
Ava's heart sank, the relief of her escape tempered by the realization that Jaxon was still in danger. She had no idea what had happened to him, whether he was alive or if...
"Don't worry," Caleb said, his voice cutting through her thoughts. "We'll find him. I'm not leaving without him."
Ava nodded, the fear and worry gnawing at her, but she knew that Caleb was right. They had to focus on the present, on getting out of the immediate danger. They could regroup and search for Jaxon once they were safe.
The helicopter banked sharply to the right, the city lights spreading out below them like a sea of stars. The rush of air through the open door sent a chill through Ava, but she barely noticed. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of Jaxon, with the gnawing fear that they might not find him in time.
"We've got to get out of the open," Caleb said, glancing at the pilot. "Find somewhere to land where we can regroup."
The pilot nodded, his face grim. "There's a safehouse on the outskirts of the city. It's not far."
"Good," Caleb replied, his hand resting on Ava's shoulder. "Hang in there, Ava. We're almost out of this."
Ava forced herself to nod, her mind spinning with the events of the night. They had escaped for now, but the danger wasn't over not by a long shot. Veronica and her men would be relentless, and the fact that Jaxon was still out there, alone, filled her with dread.
The helicopter sped toward the outskirts of the city, leaving the burning forest and the men who had pursued them far behind. But as the city lights faded into the distance, Ava couldn't shake the feeling that they were still being hunted, that the shadows of the night were closing in around them.
And as the helicopter descended toward the safehouse, Ava's heart remained heavy with fear and uncertainty.
They were far from safe.