The cold air slapped Alex's face as he ran into the dense forest. The heavy foliage above blocked the moonlight that filtered through most of it. The area lay plunged in darkness, where only the momentary flash of his flashlight cast a brief sense of light across the surroundings. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his brain racing faster than his legs. The words of the stalker echoed inside his head :
"We will always find you.
The soft crunch of leaves behind him told Alex he wasn't alone. Whoever the intruder was, they were relentless. He gritted his teeth, pushing his legs to move faster. His bag thumped against his back, the laptop inside a constant reminder of the encrypted message he'd intercepted.
Why him? Why now?
He steered left, ducking under a low-hanging branch. Forest seemed alive, every rustling leaf and snapping twig amping up his paranoia. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Activating its tracking software, he quickly scanned the stalker's signal. The dot was closer than he'd hoped.
"Damn," he muttered to himself. He shifted his course slightly, heading in the direction of a small ravine he'd seen on his map earlier. If he could cross over it, perhaps he could lead the pursuer astray.
The ground beneath him shifted suddenly, and Alex nearly stumbled. The soft soil gave way to a rocky incline, and he slid down, barely managing to keep his footing. He grabbed a nearby tree trunk for support, his fingers digging into the rough bark.
From behind, a voice called out.
"You're only making this harder for yourself, Alex!"
The sound sent a chill down his spine. He could not see the man, but the proximity of his voice was enough to keep Alex moving. He pressed on, his flashlight guiding him through the uneven terrain.
At last, the ravine appeared—a precipitous drop with a shallow stream at the bottom. Alex scanned the area for a way across. A fallen tree spanned the gap; its bark was slick with moss. Not ideal, but it was his only option.
Balancing carefully, Alex stepped onto the log. The wood creaked under his weight, the sound echoing in the stillness. He moved slowly, his arms outstretched for balance. Halfway across, he heard the crunch of footsteps behind him.
The stalker had reached the ravine.
"Smart move," the man called out, his voice filled with mockery. "But you're running out of options."
Alex didn't answer. He made it to the far side of the ravine and leaped off the log, landing in a crouch. Not looking back, he ran deeper into the forest.
The stalker, unimpressed, started crossing the log. Alex glanced over his shoulder, his flashlight catching the silhouette of the man. He was steady, deliberate, and clearly experienced.
Alex's heart pounded as he devised a plan. He scanned the forest for anything he could use to his advantage. Ahead, he spotted a cluster of jagged rocks partially hidden by underbrush. He quickly bent down, grabbing a few loose stones.
Turning back, Alex aimed carefully and threw one of the rocks. It hit the log near the man's feet, causing him to pause. The second rock struck closer, and the man faltered, losing his balance momentarily.
" Cheap tricks won't save you!" the stalker yelled, his tone sharper now.
Alex didn't wait for a response. He resumed running, weaving through the dense forest. His mind was racing, analyzing every possible escape route. He needed to find shelter, somewhere to regroup and figure out his next move.
After what seemed to be an age, the woods began to clear. The glimmer of distant streetlights grew visible through the trees. Renewed by a promise of civilization, Alex thrust himself forward again.
He came out onto a deserted road, its cracked asphalt overgrown with weeds. A single streetlight flickered off to one side, casting its shadows eerily. Alex leaned against a support post, gulping for breath, his chest heaving in and out of his lungs.
Behind him, the forest was silent. The stalker hadn't come yet, but Alex knew better than to let his guard down. He pulled out his phone, checked the tracker one more time, and saw the dot was stationary in the forest probably.
For now, he had a lead.
Alex scanned around, finding his gaze alight on a deserted gas station a few yards down the road. Shattered windows marked it, and its sign hung crookedly, the wind creaking through. It wasn't much, but it was certainly better than hanging out in the open.
He approached cautiously, his flashlight illuminating the dark interior. The shelves were bare, and graffiti covered the walls. Alex stepped inside, the floorboards groaning under his weight.
He found a corner away from the broken windows and sat down, pulling his laptop from his bag. Booting it up, he quickly accessed the intercepted message again. The partial decryption still lingered on the screen, taunting him.
"Target acquired. Maintain visual."
Alex scrunched up his face, fingers dancing across the keyboard. He needed to decrypt the rest of the message. Whoever was after him had resources and skill—this wasn't a random attack.
As he worked, the rumble of a car engine drifted through the distance. Alex's head snapped up, his heart leaping in his chest. The road had been empty just minutes ago.
He scrambled to his feet, peeking through the shattered window. A black SUV rolled down the road, its headlights cutting through the darkness. It slowed as it approached the gas station.
Alex quickly shut his laptop and slipped it back into his bag. He moved to the back of the building, searching for an exit. The sound of the SUV's engine grew louder, then stopped.
Doors slammed shut.
Alex flattened himself against the wall, his breath shallow. Footsteps crunched on the gravel outside.
"Spread out," a voice commanded. "He has to be here somewhere."
Alex clenched his fists, his mind racing. He couldn't afford to be caught—not now, not ever.