Carter's legs burned as he sprinted through the dense forest, his breath coming in sharp, ragged bursts. Maya was just ahead of him, moving swiftly and silently despite the chaos that had erupted back at the Apex facility. The night air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, but behind them, the distant hum of drones and the faint sound of alarms still echoed. They weren't out of danger yet.
They'd managed to slip through the gate, but the forest wasn't going to protect them for long. Carter knew Apex wouldn't stop until they were caught—or worse. The EMPs had bought them time, but the moment the systems rebooted, every available resource at Apex's disposal would be trained on them.
Maya glanced back over her shoulder, her face set in a grim expression. "Keep moving," she hissed. "We need to put as much distance between us and the facility as possible."
Carter gritted his teeth and pushed himself harder. His body was screaming for rest, but he couldn't afford to slow down. Not now. Not when they were this close to getting away. The flash drive with the data they had stolen from the server was tucked safely in Maya's jacket, and Carter knew it was the key to everything. If they could get it to the right people, they could cripple Apex's plans and keep Elle out of their hands.
"Elle, what's the status on their pursuit?" Maya asked, her voice low but urgent.
Elle's voice crackled through their earpieces, calm but focused. "Apex has deployed drones. They're sweeping the forest perimeter, but they haven't pinpointed your location yet. You've got maybe ten minutes before they catch up."
"Ten minutes?" Carter muttered, his breath coming in short gasps. "You couldn't give us more than that?"
"They're not invincible," Elle replied smoothly. "You just need to keep moving and stay out of sight. I'll guide you to the extraction point."
Maya nodded, her pace never faltering. "What's our route?"
"There's an old service road about a mile east of your position," Elle said. "It's heavily overgrown, but it should lead you to a secondary exit from the facility's grounds. From there, I can guide you to an extraction point."
Carter's heart sank. A mile. He wasn't sure his legs could take much more, but there was no time to complain. They had no choice. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, adjusted the duffel bag slung across his shoulder, and followed Maya deeper into the forest.
The trees pressed in around them, their branches clawing at Carter's jacket as he pushed through the underbrush. The darkness made it hard to see, but the faint light of the moon filtered through the canopy, just enough to keep them from stumbling blindly.
"You alright back there?" Maya asked, her voice clipped but concerned.
Carter nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Yeah. Just another walk in the park, right?"
Maya didn't respond, but Carter could hear the tension in her breathing. She was focused, determined, but even she had to know how close they were to getting caught. They'd been lucky so far, but luck didn't last forever. Carter had been in enough tight spots to know that sooner or later, things would catch up with them.
The forest floor sloped upward as they moved east, the terrain becoming more uneven and rocky. Carter could feel his calves straining as they climbed, but he kept moving, determined not to slow them down. The faint hum of the drones was getting closer now, the high-pitched whine cutting through the night air like a predator stalking its prey.
"Drones are closing in," Elle warned. "You've got to move faster."
Maya glanced back at Carter. "Pick up the pace. We're almost there."
Carter gritted his teeth and pushed harder, his legs screaming in protest. He could hear the buzzing of the drones now, growing louder with every second. They were running out of time.
--
The service road appeared just as Elle had promised, a narrow dirt path that was almost completely swallowed by the forest. The overgrown trees and thick underbrush made it nearly invisible from a distance, but once they were on it, the road provided a clear route through the dense woods.
"This way," Maya called out, veering onto the path without slowing down.
Carter followed, his feet pounding against the dirt as they raced along the winding road. The sounds of the drones were still close behind them, but the thick canopy of trees overhead offered some cover. If they could just make it to the extraction point, they might have a chance.
But Carter knew better than to count on "might."
"Elle, how much further?" Maya asked, her voice sharp and breathless.
"Half a mile," Elle replied. "But you've got company. There's a patrol unit moving in from the north—three vehicles, heavily armed."
Maya cursed under her breath. "We need to take cover."
Carter's eyes darted around, searching for anything that could provide some protection. The road was too exposed—if the patrol unit caught sight of them, they'd be sitting ducks. They needed to get off the road and find some place to hide, even if it was just for a moment.
"There," Carter said, pointing to a large cluster of boulders near the edge of the road.
Maya nodded and veered off the path, leading them toward the rocks. They ducked behind the boulders just as the sound of approaching engines rumbled in the distance. Carter pressed his back against the cold stone, trying to control his breathing. His chest heaved with every breath, but he forced himself to stay quiet.
The patrol unit's headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the forest as they passed. Carter held his breath, praying they wouldn't be spotted. The trucks moved slowly, the engines growling like beasts as they crawled along the road, their searchlights scanning the trees.
Carter's hand hovered over the gun at his hip, ready to draw it at a moment's notice. If they were spotted, he and Maya would have no choice but to fight their way out. But he knew the odds weren't in their favor. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and running on borrowed time.
The trucks rolled past, their lights sweeping dangerously close to the boulders. Carter could feel the tension in his muscles, every fiber of his being ready to spring into action. But the trucks didn't stop. They continued down the road, their searchlights disappearing into the darkness.
Carter exhaled slowly, his body sagging with relief.
"That was close," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Maya didn't respond. She was already moving, slipping back onto the path and signaling for him to follow. Carter pushed himself to his feet and fell in behind her, his legs still shaky from the adrenaline rush.
"We can't stay here," Maya said, her voice low but urgent. "They'll circle back soon. We need to keep moving."
Carter nodded, falling into step beside her. The forest seemed darker now, the trees closing in around them as they pressed forward. The faint hum of the drones had faded, but Carter knew they weren't out of danger yet. The patrol unit would be back, and when they returned, they wouldn't be so easy to avoid.
"Elle, how much further to the extraction point?" Maya asked, her eyes scanning the trees.
"About a quarter-mile," Elle replied. "But you need to be careful. There's another security team moving in from the west. They're sweeping the area, looking for any signs of a breach."
Maya swore under her breath. "We need a distraction."
Carter shot her a sideways glance. "What do you have in mind?"
Maya pulled one of the remaining drones from her jacket, handing it to Carter. "We're going to send this in the opposite direction. It'll create enough noise and movement to draw their attention."
Carter nodded, taking the drone and activating it. The small device buzzed to life, its rotors spinning quietly as it lifted off from his hand. He programmed it to fly west, toward the approaching security team, then set it loose. The drone shot off into the trees, its small frame disappearing into the darkness.
Maya crouched low, motioning for Carter to follow her deeper into the forest. They moved quickly and quietly, using the cover of the trees to stay hidden as they made their way toward the extraction point. The sound of the drone buzzing in the distance grew fainter, but Carter could already hear the telltale signs of the security team reacting to it. Shouts echoed through the trees, followed by the sound of gunfire.
The distraction was working.
"Keep moving," Maya whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps. "We're almost there."
Carter's heart pounded in his chest as they pressed forward, the extraction point just ahead. The forest began to thin, and Carter could see the faint outline of a clearing in the distance. Relief washed over him—finally, a break in the chaos.
"Elle, we're approaching the extraction point," Maya said, her voice steady despite the urgency.
"I've got you covered," Elle replied. "The extraction vehicle is waiting for you just beyond the clearing. You're almost out."
They broke through the last line of trees, the clearing opening up before them. Parked near the edge of the clearing was a black SUV, its engine idling softly, headlights off. The extraction vehicle.
Carter and Maya sprinted across the clearing, their boots kicking up dirt as they closed the distance. The driver of the SUV—a shadowy figure wearing a black cap—stepped out and opened the back door for them, his face hidden in the dim light.
"Get in," the driver said, his voice low and gravelly.
Carter didn't need to be told twice. He climbed into the back of the SUV, sliding across the seat as Maya followed close behind. The driver slammed the door shut and got back behind the wheel, the engine roaring to life as the vehicle sped off into the night.
Carter leaned back in his seat, his breath finally slowing as the tension in his body began to ease. They'd made it. They were out.
For now.