Ava's pulse raced as she darted through the narrow hallways, the sounds of heavy footsteps and Veronica's enraged shouts echoing behind her. The machinery roared in the background, creating a wall of noise that gave her a slim advantage but she knew it wouldn't last long. She had bought herself moments, maybe seconds, and she had to make them count.
Her lungs burned with every ragged breath as she weaved through the abandoned compound, her eyes scanning for any sign of Jaxon. Panic clawed at her, but she forced it down, keeping her mind sharp, focused. She couldn't let fear take over now.
The compound was a maze of decrepit hallways and empty rooms, each turn more disorienting than the last. Ava's footsteps echoed in the vast space, her boots pounding against the cracked concrete floors. Sweat dripped down her face, her heart thundering in her chest as she pushed herself to move faster.
"Find her!" Veronica's voice rang out, furious and commanding. Ava's gut twisted at the sound. Veronica's men would be closing in, and there was no telling how many were still in the compound. She couldn't afford to be caught not now, not when Jaxon was so close.
Suddenly, she skidded to a stop at a junction. Three hallways stretched before her, each dark and foreboding. Ava's chest tightened. Which way? She had no map, no clear sense of direction, and every second wasted could mean the difference between life and death.
Her instincts screamed at her to go right, but her mind hesitated. What if she was wrong? What if it led her deeper into a dead end or another trap?
Another shout echoed through the halls, closer this time. She didn't have time to second guess herself. With a deep breath, Ava veered right, sprinting down the narrow corridor as fast as her legs would carry her. She needed to find Jaxon, needed to get them both out of this nightmare before it was too late.
The hallway stretched endlessly before her, the dim lights flickering as if mocking her desperation. Her heart hammered in her chest, and her thoughts spun wildly, each one more frantic than the last. But then she saw it an open door at the far end of the hall.
Ava's heart leapt into her throat. Could it be? Could he be in there?
She pushed herself harder, her legs burning with exertion as she neared the door. The room beyond was dark, but something about it felt different. Her breath caught as she slowed her pace, her hand trembling as she reached for the handle.
The room was small, windowless, and filled with the smell of damp concrete. Ava's eyes adjusted to the gloom, and her heart lurched.
There, slumped against the far wall, was Jaxon.
He looked worse than she had imagined. His face was pale, his clothes torn and bloodied, and his wrists were bound tightly with thick rope. His head hung low, his breathing shallow and labored.
"Jaxon!" Ava rushed to his side, her hands fumbling as she grabbed the rope binding his wrists. Her fingers shook as she worked to untie the knots, panic rising in her chest. He was barely conscious, his body limp and unresponsive.
"Jaxon, please... wake up," Ava whispered, her voice trembling with desperation. She needed him to open his eyes, needed him to tell her he was still with her. But he didn't stir, his body too weak from whatever torture Veronica had put him through.
Ava's heart clenched as she finally freed his wrists, pulling him into her arms. His skin was cold, and she could feel the rapid, shallow breaths coming from his chest. He was alive, but barely.
"I'm getting you out of here," Ava said, her voice firm despite the tears that pricked at the corners of her eyes. "I'm not leaving you behind."
But even as she said the words, doubt gnawed at her. How was she going to get him out? He could barely move, and Veronica's men were closing in fast. They wouldn't make it far if Jaxon couldn't walk.
Ava gritted her teeth, pushing the doubt aside. She'd figure it out. She had to.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder and more urgent. Ava's pulse spiked, her breath catching in her throat. They were coming.
Her mind raced as she glanced around the small room, searching for any possible escape route. There was nothing no windows, no back doors, no vents. The only way out was the way she had come in, and they'd be trapped if she stayed here any longer.
Ava grabbed Jaxon's arm, trying to pull him to his feet. "Come on, Jaxon. I need you to help me."
Jaxon groaned softly, his head lolling to the side as he struggled to open his eyes. His lips moved, but no sound came out.
"Please, Jaxon," Ava whispered, her voice breaking. "I can't do this alone."
His eyes fluttered open, just for a moment, his gaze unfocused and hazy. But it was enough. He was still in there, still fighting. Ava's heart swelled with determination as she pulled him up, draping his arm over her shoulder.
"We're getting out of here," she whispered again, more to herself than to him. "I promise."
With Jaxon leaning heavily against her, Ava pushed through the door and back into the hallway. The footsteps were getting closer now, too close. Her heart pounded as she dragged Jaxon along, each step agonizingly slow.
But she refused to give up. Not now.
Ava's breath came in short, desperate gasps as she rounded a corner, her eyes darting around for any sign of a way out. The compound was a labyrinth, and she had no idea which way led to safety. But she had to keep moving.
Suddenly, a door at the end of the hall burst open, and two of Veronica's men stepped through, their eyes locking onto Ava and Jaxon immediately.
"There they are!" one of the men shouted, his hand reaching for the gun at his waist.
Ava's heart slammed against her ribs as adrenaline surged through her. She couldn't fight them not like this. She needed another way out, and fast.
Without thinking, Ava spotted a nearby stairwell and bolted toward it, dragging Jaxon with her. The men shouted after her, their footsteps thundering behind them as they gave chase.
Ava practically threw herself into the stairwell, her body trembling with exhaustion as she half-carried Jaxon down the narrow steps. She could hear the men's boots clanging against the metal stairs, growing louder with each passing second.
Panic clawed at her throat as they reached the bottom of the stairs. She was running out of time, running out of options. The only door ahead led to what looked like a basement,dark and foreboding.
But it was her only choice.
Ava pushed open the door and stepped inside, slamming it shut behind them. She fumbled for the lock, her hands shaking as she twisted it into place. For a brief moment, there was silence.
Then the pounding began.
The men were right outside the door, their fists slamming against the metal as they tried to force their way in. Ava's heart pounded in her chest as she looked around the basement, her eyes wide with fear.
There was no way out. No windows, no doors. They were trapped.
Ava backed away from the door, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Jaxon was barely conscious, his body slumped against the wall. She had failed. After everything, she had failed.
The door rattled violently as the men continued their assault, and Ava felt the cold grip of despair tighten around her heart. This was it. There was no escape.
But then, as her eyes scanned the dark corners of the basement, she spotted something she hadn't noticed before. A grate, half hidden beneath a pile of debris, leading to an air duct.
Hope surged through her veins as she rushed toward it, her hands trembling as she pulled the debris aside. The grate was small, barely large enough for them to squeeze through but it was a way out.
Ava wasted no time. She grabbed Jaxon, pulling him toward the grate as fast as she could. The pounding on the door grew louder, more desperate. They didn't have much time.
With a grunt of effort, Ava yanked the grate open and shoved Jaxon through the narrow opening. She followed quickly, pulling the grate back into place just as the door behind them crashed open.
For a moment, there was silence. The sound of the men's footsteps filled the room as they searched for her, but they hadn't noticed the duct.
Ava held her breath, her body trembling as she and Jaxon crawled deeper into the narrow tunnel. They had escaped again barely.
But she knew the danger wasn't over. Not by a long shot.