The clearing felt like a pressure cooker, the night air thick with tension as Carter, Maya, and Callum crouched near the southern perimeter fence. Beyond the rusted barbed wire and spotlights, Apex soldiers moved with eerie precision, sweeping the area for intruders. Drones buzzed overhead, their low hum punctuating the oppressive quiet. Every second spent in the open was a risk, and the weight of that reality pressed down on Carter.
"We can't just stand here," Carter muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline spiking again. "We need to move before one of those drones spots us."
Callum pulled out a small electronic device from his backpack and started tampering with it. "Give me a sec. I'll kill the power to the fence long enough for us to slip through."
"Elle, how are the drones looking?" Maya asked, keeping her voice low as her eyes scanned the treeline, muscles tense, ready to spring into action.
Elle's voice crackled in their earpieces. "I've rerouted two drones toward the northwest corner of the perimeter, but Apex is reconfiguring their patrols. You'll have about a two-minute window before they redirect. Move quickly."
Carter glanced at Maya, their eyes locking for a split second, both knowing this wasn't going to be easy. He gripped his pistol tighter, nodding toward Callum as the older man fiddled with the device.
"You really think this is going to work?" Carter asked, unable to keep the doubt from his voice.
Callum didn't look up, his hands working with practiced precision. "I've done this before, kid. The tech's a little newer, but the principle's the same. It'll hold."
Carter shifted his weight, ready to run. He trusted Callum's instincts, but every part of him screamed that they were on borrowed time. The patrols were moving closer, and if even one drone veered off course, they'd be caught in the open.
"Almost there," Callum said, his brow furrowed in concentration. His fingers flew over the device, adjusting settings, rewiring circuits. A faint clicking sound echoed in the silence as the device powered up. "Okay, Carter, Maya—get ready."
Carter tightened his grip on his pistol, his heart thudding louder than the drone hums overhead. Maya was already moving, her eyes sharp, her body poised for action. She gave him a quick nod, that unspoken understanding between them as they prepared to make a run for it.
Callum finally gave a sharp twist to the device, and a soft buzz filled the air as the electronic fence short-circuited, the lights dimming briefly. The barbed wire sparked for a second before the power cut out entirely.
"Go!" Callum barked.
Maya was the first to move, darting toward the fence with lightning speed. She slipped through the gap Callum had created, her rifle slung across her back as she ducked low to avoid the spotlights. Carter followed, his legs pumping hard as he crossed the short distance to the fence. His heart slammed in his chest, the heat of danger pressing down on him.
He slid through the fence behind Maya, his breath ragged as he hit the ground on the other side. Callum was right behind them, pulling the device from the fence and stowing it back into his pack with practiced efficiency.
"Elle, you better have an exit plan," Carter hissed, glancing up at the night sky where the drones buzzed like silent predators.
"I've located an old supply route through the woods," Elle said, her voice calm but with a sharp edge of urgency. "It's a narrow path, but it'll lead you past Apex's main patrol zone. Head northeast. I'll keep the drones distracted."
Maya nodded, motioning for Carter and Callum to follow. "We move fast. No stopping. Let's go."
--
The forest was denser here, the thick underbrush scraping at Carter's legs as they moved quickly through the shadows. The smell of pine and wet earth filled his lungs, but the distant hum of drones never let him forget how close the danger still was.
Maya kept her pace brisk, her breathing steady, rifle at the ready. She barely made a sound as she moved through the terrain, her instincts honed from years of survival. Carter, on the other hand, was trying not to trip over every root and stone in their path, his muscles aching from the relentless running.
"You good back there?" Maya asked, her voice low but firm as she glanced over her shoulder.
"Define 'good,'" Carter muttered, wincing as a branch smacked him across the face. "Still alive, if that counts."
Callum, running a few steps behind Carter, chuckled softly. "You'll live, Wright. Keep your head down."
Carter grumbled something under his breath but kept moving. The narrow trail Elle had found was barely visible, weaving between tall pines and thick brambles that made every step a calculated effort. The sound of rustling leaves and the occasional distant crack of a branch underfoot was the only thing that broke the oppressive quiet.
"How far?" Maya asked, slowing her pace slightly as they reached a steep incline.
"About half a mile to the supply route," Elle responded. "I've rerouted most of the drones, but you're not out of the woods yet—literally or figuratively."
Carter rolled his eyes, despite the seriousness of the situation. "Great. I always wanted to die tired."
Maya ignored him, her attention focused on the path ahead. They climbed the incline in silence, the strain evident in their breaths but none of them willing to slow down. Every second felt like borrowed time. The further they went, the darker the forest became, with only thin slivers of moonlight piercing the dense canopy above.
As they reached the top of the incline, Carter stopped for a brief moment to catch his breath, leaning against a tree. His muscles burned, his legs ached, and his lungs felt like they were about to burst.
Maya noticed and threw him a quick glance. "You can rest when we're out of here."
"Sure thing," Carter huffed, pushing off the tree. "Just trying to make sure I can still feel my legs."
She allowed herself a brief smirk before continuing forward.
--
They hadn't gone far when a sharp sound cut through the forest—the unmistakable whir of a drone approaching fast. Carter's blood ran cold.
"Elle?" Maya whispered, dropping into a crouch and motioning for the others to follow.
"That's not one of mine," Elle said, her voice clipped. "It's heading straight for you."
Carter's heart slammed into his throat. "Options?"
"There's a small ravine about fifty meters northeast of your position. You need to get there before it's directly overhead."
Maya didn't waste a second. She motioned sharply, and they took off running again, ducking low as they weaved through the underbrush. The drone's hum grew louder, cutting through the night air like an ominous warning. Carter's legs burned with exertion, but fear kept him moving.
They reached the ravine just as the drone passed overhead, its searchlights sweeping across the forest floor. Carter dove into the cover of the ravine, barely managing to stay quiet as he landed hard on his shoulder, sliding a few feet before stopping.
Maya and Callum were already in position, pressing themselves against the ravine's rocky walls, their breaths shallow and controlled. Above them, the drone hovered, its lights cutting eerie patterns through the trees, searching, scanning.
Carter held his breath, his heart pounding so loud in his chest he was sure the drone would hear it. The minutes dragged on as the drone lingered, its lights passing over their hiding spot again and again. Every second felt like an eternity.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the drone moved on, its hum fading as it drifted further into the forest.
Maya exhaled softly, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the skies above. "That was too close."
"You think?" Carter whispered, still catching his breath.
Callum shifted beside him, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife. "They're getting smarter. We're not going to shake them that easily."
Maya nodded, her jaw clenched. "We'll have to move fast. Elle, any more drones on our path?"
"I've rerouted the others, but they're getting more persistent," Elle replied. "You need to get to that supply route, and you need to get there now."
--
The group climbed out of the ravine, moving swiftly but cautiously. The pressure was building, the weight of Apex closing in on them at every turn. Carter could feel it—could see it in Maya's sharp glances and Callum's tight grip on his knife.
They were running out of time.
"Not much further now," Elle said, her voice a calming presence despite the chaos surrounding them. "The supply route is just ahead. From there, we'll have an opening to the extraction point."
Carter nodded, pushing himself harder, his legs aching with each step. They weaved through the dense forest, the terrain uneven and unforgiving, but none of them were willing to slow down.
Finally, the trees parted, revealing a narrow dirt road that cut through the forest—a long-abandoned supply route. They had made it, but Carter knew better than to celebrate. The next few minutes would be critical.
Maya raised her rifle, scanning the road ahead. "Elle, we need eyes on the extraction point. Are we clear?"
"Patrols are circling, but I've cleared you a path," Elle said. "You've got five minutes to make it before the next drone sweep. After that, it's out of my hands."
"Then we run," Maya said simply, already moving.
Carter followed her, his breath coming in ragged gasps as they sprinted down the road. The trees blurred past, the darkness pressing in on all sides. It was just a straight shot now—one final sprint to freedom.
But as they neared the extraction point, a new sound filled the air.
Helicopter blades.
"Elle?" Carter asked, panic rising in his chest.
"That's... not us."
Carter's stomach dropped. Apex had called in air support.