Ava lay on the riverbank for what felt like hours, her body aching from the brutal impact of the water and the rocks. The cold air clung to her wet clothes, chilling her to the bone, but she couldn't bring herself to move. She was utterly drained physically, emotionally, mentally.
But she had survived. For now.
As she stared up at the night sky, her thoughts drifted back to Jaxon. He was still out there, held captive by Veronica's men, and the weight of that realization felt like a stone in her chest. The relief she felt from escaping had quickly given way to a gnawing sense of guilt. She had left him behind. But she hadn't had a choice.
Ava groaned softly as she forced herself to sit up, her muscles protesting with every movement. She was bruised, scraped, and battered, but she was alive. And now, she had to figure out how to get Jaxon back.
The night was still eerily quiet, the sound of the river's rushing water the only thing breaking the silence. Ava glanced around, trying to get her bearings, but the forest was dark, and she had no idea where she was. The cliff from which she'd jumped was now far behind her, and she had no way of knowing how far the current had carried her.
But one thing was clear she couldn't stay here. Veronica's men would be searching for her, and it was only a matter of time before they found her if she didn't keep moving.
With a deep breath, Ava pushed herself to her feet, her legs trembling beneath her. She stumbled toward the edge of the forest, her eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of a path or a road. She needed to get to higher ground, needed to find some way to get back to Jaxon.
Her thoughts whirled as she made her way through the underbrush, each step slow and careful. Her body was heavy with exhaustion, but she forced herself to keep going. She couldn't let herself stop not now.
She didn't know how much time had passed, but eventually, Ava reached a small clearing. Her breath caught as she spotted something in the distance a faint glow of light, barely visible through the thick trees. It wasn't much, but it was something.
Her heart quickened with hope as she moved toward the light, her mind racing with possibilities. Maybe it was a cabin, or a campsite somewhere she could find shelter, or at least get a better sense of where she was.
As she drew closer, the light became more distinct, and Ava's pulse quickened. She could hear voices now low, murmured conversations and the faint flicker of a fire came into view.
Her steps slowed as she neared the edge of the clearing, her instincts screaming at her to be cautious. She crouched low behind a tree, peering out at the scene before her.
A small campsite, just a few tents and a firepit, with two men sitting around the fire. They looked rough, dressed in worn clothes, their faces shadowed by the dim light. But they didn't appear to be Veronica's men or at least, not part of the group that had been chasing her.
Ava's heart raced as she weighed her options. These men could be a threat, but they could also be her only chance at getting information at finding a way back to Jaxon. She had no idea where she was, and if she didn't act soon, she'd be wandering the forest aimlessly until Veronica's men found her.
Taking a deep breath, Ava stepped out from behind the tree, her muscles tense and ready to run if things went south. She kept her hands visible, hoping to avoid any sudden reactions.
The men looked up as she approached, their eyes narrowing in surprise. One of them tall, broad shouldered, with a weathered face stood up, his hand instinctively moving to the knife at his belt.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice gruff and suspicious.
Ava swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. "I..." She hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. "I'm lost," she said finally, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her insides. "I need help."
The man's eyes narrowed further, his hand still resting on the hilt of his knife. "Lost? Out here?"
Ava nodded, her pulse racing. "I... I was running from someone. There were men... they were chasing me."
The man exchanged a glance with his companion another man, shorter but stockier, with a thick beard and sharp eyes. The bearded man stood up slowly, his expression unreadable.
"And why would they be chasing you?" the second man asked, his tone skeptical.
Ava's mind raced as she tried to come up with a believable explanation. She couldn't tell them the full truth,couldn't risk revealing anything about Jaxon or Veronica. Not yet.
"I... I don't know," she said, her voice trembling with just enough fear to make the lie believable. "They attacked me. I think they were part of some gang. I managed to escape, but I'm hurt, and I don't know where I am."
The men exchanged another glance, and Ava's heart sank. They didn't believe her.
"You're not from around here, are you?" the first man asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Ava shook her head, her breath catching in her throat. "No... I'm just trying to get away. Please, I don't mean any harm."
For a moment, there was silence. The two men stared at her, their expressions unreadable, and Ava's pulse pounded in her ears as she waited for their next move.
Finally, the bearded man sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "All right," he said, his tone gruff but not unkind. "We can't just leave you out here to fend for yourself."
Ava's shoulders sagged with relief, but she didn't let her guard down completely. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice shaky with exhaustion.
The first man stepped forward, his gaze still wary. "We'll help you, but don't get too comfortable. We don't know who you are or what kind of trouble you've brought with you."
Ava nodded quickly, grateful for even the smallest chance to rest. "I understand."
The men gestured for her to sit by the fire, and Ava did so, her body trembling with exhaustion as the warmth of the flames washed over her. She hadn't realized just how cold she had been until that moment, and the heat was a welcome reprieve.
As she sat there, her mind began to clear, the adrenaline slowly fading from her system. She needed to be smart about this needed to find a way to get the information she needed without raising too many suspicions. These men didn't seem like they were connected to Veronica, but she couldn't take any chances.
The bearded man handed her a canteen of water, and Ava took it gratefully, her throat parched from the chase. She drank deeply, the cool liquid soothing her dry throat as she tried to formulate her next move.
"So," the first man said, his eyes still fixed on her. "What exactly are you running from?"
Ava hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "It's... complicated," she said, handing the canteen back. "But there's a man someone I care about. He's in danger, and I need to find him before it's too late."
The two men exchanged another glance, but this time their expressions seemed to soften slightly. The first man sat down across from her, his gaze still wary but less hostile than before.
"We've seen a lot of things out here," he said, his voice low. "People running from all sorts of trouble. But if you're in the kind of danger you say you are, you're going to need more than just luck to survive."
Ava nodded, her heart racing as she realized that these men could be her way out of this. If they knew the area, if they had resources maybe they could help her find Jaxon. Maybe they could help her fight back.
"I'll do whatever it takes," Ava said quietly, her voice filled with determination. "I just need to find him."
The bearded man leaned back, studying her for a long moment before finally nodding. "We might be able to help. But it's going to cost you."
Ava's stomach twisted with unease, but she nodded. "Anything. Whatever it takes."
The first man's lips curved into a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Good. Then we have a deal."