The dense underbrush of the Pyrenees offered little protection from the cold, but it was their only hope. Élodie's heart pounded in her chest as she stumbled through the thick forest, her breath sharp in the crisp night air. The weight of Liam's unconscious body felt unbearable now, but she refused to falter. They couldn't afford to stop. They couldn't afford to be caught.
Behind them, the shouts of the Gestapo patrols echoed through the night like a distant drumbeat, growing louder with every passing second. The chase was on. The trees seemed to close in around them, the dark canopy overhead casting everything in shadows. Every crack of a branch underfoot, every rustle of leaves felt like a betrayal, a warning that they weren't alone.
Luc, ahead of them, moved with the silent grace of a man who had lived through too many close calls. His eyes flicked back occasionally, ensuring they weren't too far behind, but he never stopped, never slowed his pace. He knew the terrain better than anyone, and Élodie had to trust him.
"Keep moving," Luc hissed over his shoulder, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get to the safe house. It's not far now."
Élodie nodded, though she doubted she could speak even if she wanted to. Her throat was tight, her body trembling from the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She stole a glance at Liam, his pale face flushed with fever, his breath shallow. The faintest traces of blood stained his shirt where the wound had not been properly dressed. She had to get him to safety. She had to.
But the fear gnawing at her insides wouldn't let go.
Her legs screamed in protest as she pushed herself forward, but the thought of what would happen if they were caught kept her moving. The Gestapo would not hesitate. They'd shoot them on sight. And Liam… Liam couldn't die like this—not in a forest, not like a hunted animal.
A branch snapped to her right, a sharp, betraying sound. She froze, heart leaping into her throat. A rustle followed, closer now. She didn't dare breathe.
"Élodie," Luc whispered, his voice barely audible, "stay low. We're almost there."
She obeyed instinctively, dropping to her knees as quietly as she could, pulling Liam down beside her. His body felt impossibly heavy in her arms, but she forced herself to stay calm, to stay focused.
The forest was alive with sound now—the soft chirp of crickets, the distant hoot of an owl, but something else—something human—was there, too. The unmistakable crunch of boots on leaves. The Gestapo patrols were close.
Luc's voice was barely more than a whisper, yet it carried the weight of a command. "We can't stay here. They'll find us."
Before Élodie could respond, he grabbed her hand, his grip tight, and tugged her through the thick trees. They moved in silence, each step calculated, each breath held. The adrenaline pushed them faster, but Élodie's body was starting to rebel against her will. Her legs were heavy, and she could feel the strain in her back as she struggled to support Liam's fragile form. Her head spun, but she forced herself to keep her focus.
Another shout pierced the air, too close now.
"Move!" Luc's voice was sharp, and she didn't hesitate.
They pushed through the forest, scrambling over roots and rocks, the branches scratching at their skin, their breath ragged and uneven. Luc led them deeper into the woods, toward the hidden safe house that they had used for months. They had to get there.
But as they moved, a horrible realization set in.
Luc stopped suddenly, turning to her, his eyes wide with warning. "Élodie… we're being herded."
A chill ran down her spine. The realization hit like a brick to the chest. The patrols weren't just searching—they were closing in on them, anticipating their route.
"We'll be trapped," she whispered, the words leaving her lips in a shaky exhale.
Luc nodded grimly. "They're smart. But they haven't caught us yet. Keep moving."
Élodie swallowed hard, steeling herself. There was no choice. Not now. She couldn't let them down. Not after everything they had fought for, everything they had lost. They had to survive. She had to make sure they did.
But as they pressed on, the sound of footsteps grew louder, the patrols now dangerously close. She could hear them—voices raised, orders barked. They were almost here. The light at the end of the tunnel was so close, and yet it seemed so far.
Then, as if fate had finally decided to show its hand, a shot rang out.
The world seemed to slow for a moment—Élodie's heart stopped, her breath caught in her throat.
The sound of the shot echoed through the trees, followed by the sickening thud of something hitting the ground. It wasn't her. It wasn't Luc.
It was Liam.
Her stomach turned, and she spun around, her heart crashing into her ribs as she saw him crumple in her arms. His body went slack, his blood staining her hands, the wound opening once more. The breath that had been barely there, now halted completely.
"Liam!" Élodie screamed, her voice strangled with horror.
Luc was already moving, pulling them both to the ground behind the cover of a boulder.
"Stay down!" he hissed, his voice tight. "We can't—"
But Élodie didn't listen. She didn't care. She wasn't leaving him. Not now.
Her hands trembled as she pressed them against his wound, trying in vain to stop the bleeding. His breath was faint now, each exhale a struggle, and his eyes fluttered open, meeting hers with that familiar flicker of warmth and desperation.
"Élodie…" His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. His hand lifted weakly, his fingers brushing against her face in a touch that seemed so fragile, as if he were trying to hold onto something before it slipped through his fingers.
"Don't speak," she choked out, tears blurring her vision. "Please, just hold on."
But she knew it was too late. She could see it in his eyes. The fight was slipping from him, and she couldn't stop it.
"Promise me…" he murmured, his voice ragged. "Promise me... you'll... survive..."
"I promise, Liam. I promise," she whispered, though the weight of her words felt like the heaviest burden she'd ever carried.
But deep down, she knew: this promise wasn't one she could keep.
And as the darkness crept in, she felt the terrifying truth set in—this war had already claimed so much from them all, and it wasn't finished yet.
But for now, she would fight until the last breath, even if it was only for him.
Even if it meant losing herself in the process.