The cold night air felt heavy as Carter, Maya, and Callum emerged from the service tunnel. The trees around them swayed gently, but the distant hum of drones and the ever-present danger kept their nerves on edge. Elle's voice, calm and focused, crackled in Carter's ear, guiding their next move.
"You're clear for now, but Apex is tightening their search perimeter," Elle said. "They'll send ground teams soon."
Carter pulled the hood of his jacket tighter around his face, scanning the dark forest. "I'm starting to miss the days when a late delivery was my biggest problem."
Maya shot him a look, her rifle resting on her shoulder. "Focus, Carter. We don't have the luxury of reminiscing."
He smirked, though the tension in his body told a different story. "Just saying. If this goes sideways, I'm blaming the AI that got me into this mess."
"Technically, you got me into this mess," Elle retorted through the earpiece. "I'm just ensuring you don't get us both killed."
Callum chuckled from behind. "Elle's got a point."
"Yeah, yeah. Everyone's a comedian," Carter muttered, stepping ahead.
As they moved cautiously through the woods, their footfalls quiet against the damp earth, Carter kept glancing at Maya. She hadn't said much since the drone encounter, her jaw clenched in that familiar way he'd come to recognize—Maya was in mission mode, all business. But beneath her cold exterior, he sensed a growing unease.
"You good?" Carter asked quietly, falling into step beside her.
She didn't look at him, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Just stay sharp."
"I always am," he replied, his voice lower now, more serious. "But I meant—are you good?"
Maya's lips pressed into a thin line. For a second, it looked like she wasn't going to answer. But then, her voice softened. "I've been in worse situations, Carter. But this... this is different."
"How?"
Maya's gaze flicked to him, just briefly. "Because this isn't just about surviving anymore. This is bigger than us."
"Yeah, no pressure," Carter said, but there was no humor in his voice this time. They both knew the stakes were getting higher with every step.
--
Elle's voice interrupted their thoughts. "I've found a possible extraction point, but it's risky."
"Define risky," Carter asked.
"There's an old airfield about ten miles south. Abandoned for years, but Apex has been using it to stage their operations in the area. I can guide you through the forest, avoiding patrols, but we'll need to move fast. Once we reach the perimeter, you'll have to improvise."
Carter looked over at Maya, whose eyes narrowed. "That's a long shot."
"It's our best shot," Elle replied.
Maya nodded, her resolve firm. "Then we go."
Callum stepped forward, adjusting the strap of his bag. "I'll keep them off our trail, send them chasing ghosts through the forest."
Carter looked at the older man, his brow furrowing. "You're not splitting off, old man."
"I can handle myself, Wright. Trust me, I've done this before. I'll keep Apex busy while you make a run for it."
Carter's jaw clenched. He didn't like the idea, but the hard look in Callum's eyes told him this wasn't up for debate. The man was a survivor, but Carter had seen too many people sacrifice themselves for the cause—and it never got easier.
"Fine. But you better catch up with us," Carter said, pointing a finger at Callum.
Callum smirked. "Just don't crash the car without me."
Maya turned to Callum. "We'll give you ten minutes. Then we move."
Without another word, Callum disappeared into the shadows of the trees, leaving Carter and Maya standing in the dim moonlight. The forest was eerily quiet now, the hum of drones fading as Callum's diversion began.
"Elle, keep us posted on Callum's position," Maya said, her tone businesslike once again.
"I will," Elle replied. "But we need to focus on getting to the airfield. Stay low, move fast."
Carter glanced at Maya. "You ready?"
She checked her rifle one last time. "Let's do this."
--
They moved quickly, keeping low as they navigated through the thick woods. Carter's breath came in steady puffs as they darted between the trees, adrenaline coursing through his veins. Maya's pace was relentless, her eyes constantly scanning the path ahead for any sign of danger.
Elle's voice guided them every few moments, warning of nearby patrols or sending them on detours to avoid detection. The tension was palpable—one wrong move, and they'd be surrounded.
"How much further?" Carter whispered.
"Six miles," Elle responded. "But you've got company closing in. Two teams sweeping from the east and west."
Maya cursed under her breath. "We need to pick up the pace."
Carter nodded, pushing through the brush faster. His legs burned, but he ignored the discomfort. This was life or death, and he wasn't about to let Apex win. Not now.
The distant sound of footsteps and rustling leaves caught Carter's attention. He slowed, signaling to Maya. "We've got movement."
Maya crouched beside him, her eyes narrowing. "They're close."
Elle's voice was calm, but urgent. "You'll need to divert. There's a ravine about fifty yards north—use the cover and get out of their line of sight."
Without hesitation, they shifted direction, moving silently toward the ravine. The drop wasn't steep, but it was enough to keep them hidden from view as they descended into the shadows. Carter's heart pounded in his chest as they crouched low, waiting for the patrols to pass overhead.
The sound of footsteps grew louder—closer.
Carter gripped the handle of his pistol, holding his breath. They were close enough now that he could hear their voices, muffled but clear in the night air. He glanced at Maya, who gave a slight nod, her finger hovering over the trigger of her rifle.
Seconds felt like hours as the patrol moved past. The sound of their boots crunching on the forest floor slowly faded, but neither Carter nor Maya moved.
"Hold," Elle whispered through the earpiece. "There's another group coming."
Carter's grip tightened on the pistol. They couldn't stay here much longer. If they were spotted, it would be game over.
The second patrol came and went just as the first had—too close for comfort, but not close enough to see them.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Elle's voice returned. "You're clear."
Carter exhaled slowly, glancing at Maya. "We need to move—now."
Maya nodded, and they climbed out of the ravine, their pace faster now, more urgent.
--
As they pushed through the last stretch of forest, the faint outline of the airfield appeared on the horizon. It was a sprawling, decrepit site—runways cracked and overgrown, old hangars rusting in the moonlight. But it wasn't abandoned. Apex forces were stationed throughout, their trucks and patrols moving in tight, organized sweeps.
"Not exactly welcoming," Carter muttered.
Maya's eyes were fixed on the airfield. "We'll make it work."
Elle's voice chimed in. "I've hacked into their security feeds. I'll guide you to a weak point in the perimeter, but you'll need to act fast. They're cycling through patrols every six minutes."
Carter scanned the area. "What's the extraction plan?"
"I'll send Callum your coordinates as soon as you're inside the perimeter. He's closer than you think."
Maya didn't waste any time. "We go now."
They moved swiftly toward the perimeter, ducking behind cover whenever patrols passed. The adrenaline was pumping now—Carter could feel his pulse racing in his ears as they closed the distance to the fence. Maya was already cutting through the wire with a pair of pliers, her movements precise and quick.
As the gap in the fence widened, Carter slid through first, scanning the area ahead. No patrols—yet.
"Clear," he whispered.
Maya followed, securing the wire behind them. They moved toward one of the rusted hangars, keeping low and using the shadows for cover.
Elle's voice came through again, quieter this time. "I've disabled the security cameras, but it won't last long. You've got three minutes."
"Then let's make this count," Carter said, his grip tightening on his pistol.
They reached the hangar door, and Maya began working on the lock. Carter's heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. This was it—the next few minutes would decide everything.
The lock clicked open.
"Let's go," Maya said, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.
They slipped inside the hangar, disappearing into the darkness just as the next patrol swept past.