The truck rattled along the rough road as we sped away from the cabin, the trees blurring into dark shadows outside the windows. I glanced at Lila beside me. She was pale, her hands gripping the seat so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. But it wasn't her terror that gnawed at me—it was the gnawing fear for Tyler. He was still out there, buying us time, alone with Archer West.
I could barely think straight. Guilt twisted in my gut. We had escaped, but at what cost?
The man driving the truck hadn't asked many questions. He kept his eyes on the road, his weathered face lit by the dim dashboard lights. "Where do you need to go?" he finally asked, his voice low and gravelly.
"Just take us to the nearest town," I said quickly. "Anywhere with people."
Lila didn't say anything. She hadn't spoken since we left the woods. I could still hear the terror in her voice, see the way her body trembled when she realized Archer was after her. And now, Tyler was in his crosshairs.
I pulled out my phone and stared at the screen, willing it to buzz, to light up with a message from Tyler. But there was nothing. Just the empty silence between us and the road stretching ahead.
Lila finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "He won't survive. Archer never leaves loose ends."
I turned to her, my chest tightening. "Tyler's smart. He knows what he's doing. He'll get out."
She shook her head, her eyes hollow. "You don't know Archer. He doesn't stop. He won't stop until he finds you."
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. She was right. Archer wouldn't stop, not until he had me, Tyler, and Lila in his grasp. And if he had any idea what Lila had given us—the papers, the documents—he'd hunt us to the ends of the earth.
But I couldn't think about that now. I had to focus on getting Lila somewhere safe and finding Tyler. Somehow, we had to get ahead of Archer, before it was too late.
The truck pulled into a small town, the kind with one main street, a gas station, and a few scattered shops that looked like they had been frozen in time for decades. The driver pulled over to the side of the road, the truck's engine rumbling as he turned to look at us.
"This is it," he said. "I've got to get back, but you should be able to find a place to stay here."
"Thank you," I said, my voice shaky. "We appreciate it."
He nodded and waved us off, driving away without another word. Lila and I stood on the side of the road for a moment, the cold night air biting at my skin. The town was quiet, too quiet. A few streetlights flickered overhead, casting long shadows on the ground.
"We can't stay here long," I said, glancing around. "We need to figure out our next move."
Lila finally looked at me, her eyes brimming with exhaustion. "What move? You think running from Archer is going to save us? He's already too close."
I took a deep breath, fighting to stay calm. "We need to get you somewhere safe first. And then, we'll find Tyler."
She didn't seem convinced, but I had no other options. I had to believe Tyler was out there, alive, and we'd find him. But the longer we stood here, the more exposed we were. Archer was out there, and if he found Tyler, it wouldn't be long before he found us.
I spotted a small motel at the end of the street, its neon sign flickering "Vacancy" in bright red letters. It wasn't much, but it would do for the night.
"Come on," I said, nudging Lila forward. "We'll figure it out from there."
***
The motel room was as rundown as I expected—faded wallpaper, a creaky bed, and a lingering smell of old cigarettes. But it was shelter, and for the moment, that was all that mattered.
Lila sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes distant, as if she was somewhere far away. I knew this was harder for her than it was for me. She had been running for so long, and now, after all these years, Archer was closing in. I couldn't imagine the weight she carried.
I pulled out my phone again, desperate for any sign of Tyler. I dialed his number, holding my breath as the line rang, once, twice… then went straight to voicemail. My stomach churned with anxiety.
Where are you, Tyler?
I tried again, but it was the same—ringing, then silence. I could barely stand it.
Suddenly, Lila spoke, her voice shaking. "What are we going to do? If Thorne finds me—if Archer gets to me—it's over."
I knelt in front of her, trying to steady my voice. "We're going to get through this, Lila. You've done the hardest part. You gave us the information we need to take Thorne down. Now, we just have to stay ahead of them."
She looked at me, tears brimming in her eyes. "You don't understand. Thorne's reach goes deeper than you think. He has people everywhere—politicians, law enforcement, media. He can make us disappear without a trace."
I felt a wave of fear wash over me, but I forced it down. "I know it's bad, but we're not alone. We've got the documents, and if we play this right, we can expose him before he knows what hit him."
Lila shook her head, her voice cracking. "It's not just about the documents. There are things in Thorne's past, things even I couldn't bring myself to look at. He's tied to dangerous people—worse than Archer."
I stared at her, my pulse racing. "Worse than Archer?"
She nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Thorne's power doesn't just come from money. It comes from fear. He's connected to people who can make anyone disappear, who can destroy lives without leaving a trace. And Archer is just the beginning."
My heart pounded in my chest. We were up against something far more dangerous than I had realized. This wasn't just about corruption or illegal deals—this was about survival.
Just as I opened my mouth to respond, my phone buzzed. I looked down and saw a message from Tyler.
*I'm okay. Meet me at the old diner down the road. Now.*
Relief flooded through me. He was alive.
"We have to go," I said, standing up quickly. "Tyler's safe. He's waiting for us."
Lila stood, still trembling, but nodded. "Okay. Let's go."
***
We left the motel and made our way down the street, the night eerily quiet around us. My heart was still racing, but at least Tyler was alive. That was all I needed to keep going.
The diner came into view, its lights dim but still open. We hurried inside, the bell above the door jingling softly as we entered.
Tyler sat in the corner booth, a slight bruise on his cheek but otherwise looking unharmed. I rushed over to him, my heart leaping in my chest.
"You're okay," I breathed, sliding into the booth beside him. "What happened?"
He shook his head, his eyes sharp. "Archer's still out there. I led him away, but we don't have much time. We need to move now."
Before I could respond, the bell above the door jingled again.
I turned, my blood running cold as Archer West stepped inside, his dark eyes locking onto ours.