'I didn't leave them behind to fight... I just need them to buy enough time,' Jack thought, his jaw clenched as he led the group through the rugged terrain.
Their pace was slowing rapidly now, the added burden of Alisha carrying Missy beginning to take its toll.
The oppressive breeze bore down on them, every step a test of their endurance.
'I'm not ready for a fight just yet, especially one that will keep me on the losing end,' he mused grimly, his eyes flickering from the map in his hand to the treacherous road ahead.
Behind him, Missy stirred weakly in Alisha's arms.
"And, brother… there's one more thing," she murmured, her voice faint but determined.
"What is it?" Jack glanced back at her, his pace only slightly faltering as the urgency in her tone caught his attention.
His gaze darted back to the map, mentally calculating their distance from the next checkpoint.
Missy's lips trembled as she fought to speak.
