The world outside the cabin was a blanket of darkness, the thick canopy of trees blotting out the moonlight. Hayes could feel their heart pounding in their chest as they and Wallace silently slipped out the back door. The cold mountain air bit at their skin, and every snap of a twig beneath their boots felt like it echoed into the night.
Hayes glanced over at Wallace, who was crouched low, gun in hand, scanning the treeline. There was no sign of movement, but the feeling of being watched was unmistakable. They both knew that Reed's men were out there—close, waiting, hunting.
"Head for the car," Wallace whispered, his voice barely audible. "We need to get out of here before they box us in."
Hayes nodded and began to move, each step deliberate, careful not to make a sound. The car was parked just beyond the clearing, hidden behind a dense patch of trees. If they could make it there without being seen, they'd have a chance to escape.
But something about the silence didn't sit right. The footsteps they had heard moments ago had stopped, and the stillness in the air felt suffocating. It was as if Reed's men were playing with them—letting them feel the tension, feeding their fear before making a move.
As they neared the edge of the clearing, Wallace suddenly froze, his hand shooting up to signal Hayes to stop. Hayes crouched behind a bush, holding their breath. Then, through the darkness, they saw it—two figures, barely visible, crouched low near the car. One of them had a rifle slung over his shoulder, the other was scanning the area with a flashlight, the beam flickering through the trees.
"They're waiting for us," Wallace whispered. "We need a new plan."
Hayes' mind raced. There was no way they could take both men down quietly, and trying to run for the car would be suicide. They needed to outsmart them, draw them away from the car without giving away their position.
"Split up," Hayes whispered back. "I'll circle around and make some noise. You stay here and take the first shot when they're distracted."
Wallace looked at them, his expression tight with concern, but he nodded. "Be careful."
Hayes gave a small nod in return before slipping into the shadows, moving around the clearing as quietly as possible. The forest around them seemed to close in, the tall trees looming like dark sentinels. Every step felt like a gamble, but Hayes pushed forward, keeping the men near the car in their peripheral vision.
Finally, Hayes found a spot on the far side of the clearing, hidden behind a thick tree. They picked up a rock, weighing it in their hand before hurling it into the woods. The rock hit a tree with a loud crack, the sound echoing through the forest.
Instantly, the men near the car snapped to attention. The one with the flashlight swung the beam toward the noise, while the other man raised his rifle, his posture tense as he scanned the area.
"Go check it out," the man with the rifle said in a low voice.
The flashlight-wielding man hesitated for a moment, clearly nervous about walking into the dark woods alone, but he finally nodded and began moving toward the sound. Hayes held their breath, waiting for the right moment.
As the man with the flashlight passed, Wallace made his move. A single, muffled gunshot rang out, and the man with the rifle crumpled to the ground before he even had a chance to react.
Hayes darted from their hiding spot, gun drawn, and fired at the remaining man. The flashlight dropped to the ground as the man fell, the beam flickering as it rolled across the dirt. Silence fell over the clearing once again.
"Clear," Wallace called out, standing over the bodies.
Hayes quickly moved to the car, adrenaline surging through them. "We need to go now. That gunshot's going to bring more of them."
They jumped into the driver's seat as Wallace took the passenger side, and without wasting a second, Hayes fired up the engine. The car roared to life, its headlights cutting through the darkness as they sped out of the clearing and back onto the narrow mountain road.
The tension inside the car was thick. Hayes kept their eyes on the road, but their mind was racing. They had bought themselves some time, but it wouldn't last long. Reed's men would regroup, and when they did, they'd come after them with everything they had.
"We can't head back to the city," Wallace said, his voice tight. "They'll be waiting for us there."
"I know," Hayes replied, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "But we can't stay up here either. We need to figure out our next move before we're completely boxed in."
Wallace leaned back in his seat, running a hand over his face. "We need to take the fight to them. Find out where Reed's base of operations is and hit him before he sends more men after us."
Hayes shot him a glance. "You think we're ready for that?"
"We don't have a choice," Wallace said. "The longer we wait, the more dangerous this gets. We need to take the offensive, or we'll end up running forever."
Hayes was silent for a moment, weighing their options. Wallace was right—staying on the defensive wasn't going to cut it anymore. But going after Reed was a massive risk. They didn't have enough firepower, enough intel, enough allies. One wrong move, and they'd be walking straight into a trap.
But they were running out of time. Reed's reach was everywhere, and the net was closing in fast. If they didn't make a move soon, there wouldn't be any options left.
"Alright," Hayes said finally. "We'll do it your way. But we need more information first. We need to know exactly where Reed's operating from and who we can trust."
Wallace nodded, already formulating a plan. "I know someone in the city. A fixer. He's got connections in every part of town—police, criminals, the works. If anyone knows where Reed's people are based, it's him."
"Can we trust him?" Hayes asked.
Wallace shrugged. "As much as we can trust anyone in this mess. But he's our best shot."
Hayes didn't like the sound of it, but they were out of options. They needed information, and fast. "Fine. Let's go see your guy."
The car sped down the winding mountain road, the headlights cutting through the mist as they descended into the valley. Ahead of them, the lights of the city began to flicker into view, a sprawling web of danger and deception.
But Hayes and Wallace had made their choice. They were done running. It was time to take the fight to Reed.