The helicopter blades beat a relentless rhythm in the air, slicing through the silence of the wilderness like a blade through flesh. Aiden and Serena lay still in the snow, their bodies pressed against the freezing ground, barely daring to breathe. The Watcher had dragged them into the snowbank moments before the helicopters appeared, their dark shapes circling ominously overhead.
"They're looking for us," Serena whispered, her breath fogging the air. "They found us."
Aiden's pulse raced as he strained to listen, the sound of the helicopters growing louder, closer. He didn't know who "they" were, but he could feel the danger pressing in from every side. Every instinct told him they had to keep moving. They couldn't afford to be caught. Not now.
The Watcher was already moving, his long coat flowing behind him as he slithered like a shadow across the snow. Aiden and Serena followed, trying to stay low, their hearts thumping in their chests. The Watcher didn't speak, but he didn't need to. His movements were swift and deliberate, a man accustomed to living on the edge.
Aiden couldn't help but wonder how much the Watcher knew about the helicopters and who was behind them. But now wasn't the time to ask questions. The enemy was close, and their presence was too much of a threat to ignore.
As they reached the edge of a thick stand of trees, the sound of the helicopters grew even louder. Aiden's mind raced. They couldn't outrun the choppers, and they had no idea what kind of weapons or technology their enemies had at their disposal. But there was one thing they had: the cover of the forest. They could lose them in the trees.
"Move," the Watcher urged in a low voice, his words barely audible above the roar of the helicopters. "Now!"
The three of them darted into the forest, the crunch of their boots muffled by the snow. Aiden pushed forward, his mind racing as they ran deeper into the trees. Every sense was on high alert. He couldn't afford to let his guard down—not for a second.
The helicopters hovered just above the treetops, their searchlights cutting through the branches, sweeping over the snow below. It wouldn't be long before they spotted them.
"We need a plan," Serena said, her voice tight with fear. "We can't just keep running forever."
The Watcher didn't look back. "You don't have time for a plan. You have to trust me."
Aiden's gaze darted around the forest. There had to be something, some way to lose them, but the sound of the helicopters was deafening. His mind flashed to their past encounters—how they had barely escaped traps, how they'd relied on quick thinking and sheer willpower to survive.
"Where are we going?" Aiden demanded, his voice harsh.
"Somewhere they won't think to look," the Watcher answered, his face hidden beneath his hood. "And somewhere you'll find what you need."
Aiden glanced at Serena, her eyes wide with fear but also determination. She was with him in this. They both knew there was no going back. They couldn't stop now.
The helicopters had almost caught up, their searchlights dancing between the trees. Aiden felt the air grow thick with tension. His heart hammered in his chest. The Watcher's movements were calm, precise, and it gave Aiden the confidence to keep moving. He had no choice but to trust him.
"Stay close," Aiden said, turning to Serena. "We'll make it."
As they pushed deeper into the woods, Aiden couldn't shake the feeling that the real danger was just beginning. Whoever controlled these helicopters wasn't going to stop until they found them. The hunt had only just started.
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