Ava ran through the thick forest, the branches tearing at her clothes and skin as she pushed forward. The dark woods blurred around her, the only sounds her heavy breathing and the pounding of her heart. The footsteps of her pursuers grew louder behind her, echoing through the trees like a nightmare she couldn't escape.
She had left Jaxon behind.
The thought weighed heavily on her, tearing at her resolve with every step. She had promised him she wouldn't leave him, that they'd face this together. But there had been no choice. If she didn't lead Veronica's men away, they would have found him weak, defenseless, and too broken to fight back.
Ava's lungs burned as she sprinted deeper into the forest, her legs screaming in protest with every step. She could hear the men behind her closing in, but not fast enough to catch her yet. That gave her a little more time, but not much.
She had to think, had to act fast. This chase wouldn't last forever, and when they caught up, she would need a plan. Ava's mind raced as she glanced around, searching for anything she could use to her advantage.
The terrain shifted, the forest floor becoming more uneven, littered with rocks and fallen branches. Ava stumbled but caught herself just in time, pushing forward with everything she had. If she could just keep them on her trail long enough, they'd lose interest in searching the cabin.
Her only goal now was survivalat least long enough to circle back for Jaxon.
Her foot caught on a root, and Ava crashed to the ground, her hands scraping against the dirt and debris. She gasped in pain, but quickly forced herself back up. There was no time to stop. The footsteps were even closer now, the men hot on her trail.
Ava's mind raced, trying to figure out her next move. There had to be something some way to slow them down, some way to gain the upper hand.
She noticed the forest thinning ahead, and panic surged through her. The trees had been her only cover, and if she left the forest, she'd be exposed. She needed to stay hidden, needed the thick canopy and shadows to work in her favor.
But she was running out of options.
Ava darted behind a thick tree, pressing her back against the rough bark as she tried to catch her breath, her mind spinning with possibilities. The footsteps were closer now too close. She could hear their voices, low and urgent, as they called out to each other, fanning out in search of her.
She had to act. Now.
Ava crouched down, her hand brushing against the forest floor as she grabbed a large branch, gripping it tightly in her hands. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. If they found her, she'd have to fight at least long enough to escape again.
The first of Veronica's men appeared, his figure silhouetted against the shadows of the trees. He moved carefully, scanning the forest for any sign of movement, his gun raised and ready.
Ava held her breath, her body tense as she watched him approach. Her heart raced, every instinct screaming at her to run, but she knew she had to wait. If she moved too soon, she'd be caught.
The man's footsteps crunched on the forest floor, drawing closer, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Ava's grip tightened on the branch, her pulse pounding in her ears.
Closer.
He was almost on top of her now, his gaze sweeping the area with deadly focus. Ava felt her muscles coil, ready to strike, when suddenly a voice called out from deeper in the woods.
"Nothing over here!"
The man hesitated, his head snapping in the direction of the voice. Ava's heart leapt into her throat, fear and adrenaline surging through her. This was her chance,her only chance.
Before the man could turn back, Ava lunged from her hiding spot, swinging the branch with all her strength. It connected with his shoulder, sending him stumbling forward with a grunt of pain.
Ava didn't wait for him to recover. She turned and ran, her legs burning as she sprinted through the trees once more. The man cursed loudly behind her, the sound of gunfire ringing out in the night as he fired blindly in her direction.
Ava ducked instinctively, her heart racing as she zigzagged between the trees, trying to put as much distance between them as possible. The bullets whizzed past her, missing their mark, but she knew it was only a matter of time before they caught up again.
The forest thinned even more ahead, the trees giving way to a steep incline. Ava's breath hitched as she realized she was headed toward a cliff one that overlooked a deep ravine below. The drop was dizzying, and the terrain was uneven, but there was no other way forward.
Her mind raced, weighing her options. She could either stop here, fight, and likely lose or she could take a chance.
Ava's feet skidded to a stop at the edge of the cliff, her heart pounding as she looked down at the jagged rocks and rushing water below. The sound of footsteps behind her reminded her that there was no time to second guess herself.
With a deep breath, Ava took one last look over her shoulder. The men were coming, their voices growing louder as they closed in on her position. She knew she couldn't outrun them forever.
So she did the only thing she could.
She jumped.
The air rushed past her as she plummeted toward the ravine, her stomach lurching as the ground disappeared beneath her. For a split second, the world seemed to stop, the sound of her own heartbeat deafening in her ears.
And then she hit the water.
The impact was brutal, knocking the wind from her lungs and sending shockwaves of pain through her body. The cold water swallowed her whole, dragging her under with a force she hadn't expected.
Ava fought to surface, her lungs screaming for air as the current pulled her deeper into the ravine. She kicked her legs, her arms flailing as she struggled against the water's grip, her vision blurring from the shock of the cold.
When she finally broke the surface, gasping for breath, the roar of the water was deafening. She was swept along with the current, her body slamming against rocks and debris as the river carried her downstream. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, but she couldn't stop. She had to keep moving, had to survive.
The men above were shouting, their voices growing fainter as the river pulled her farther away. Ava didn't dare look back. She knew they couldn't follow her now,not into the rushing water.
She let the current carry her, her body aching and bruised, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She had escaped for now. But she knew it was only a temporary reprieve.
Eventually, the river began to calm, the current slowing as it widened into a deeper pool. Ava's limbs felt like lead as she swam toward the shore, her body exhausted from the ordeal.
When she finally dragged herself onto the riverbank, she collapsed onto the ground, her chest heaving with exertion. The night sky above her was dark, the stars hidden behind a thick blanket of clouds, but the sound of the water rushing past was almost peaceful.
Ava lay there for a moment, catching her breath, her body trembling with exhaustion and relief. She had made it. She had survived.
But as she stared up at the sky, the weight of everything that had happened crashed down on her like a tidal wave. She had left Jaxon behind, and she had no idea how she was going to get back to him.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away, her mind racing with thoughts of what to do next. She couldn't stay here. She had to find her way back to Jaxon, had to figure out a way to rescue him before it was too late.
The night stretched on, the darkness closing in around her like a shroud, but Ava refused to give in to the fear creeping up her spine.
She wasn't done yet.