Eliza Morningstar — Point of View
Gravel flew out from behind them as the truck fishtailed while Eliza raced down the narrow access road. The headlights carved a shaky path through the trees, while the forest whipped past in a blur of black and silver.
Elijah held the girl tight in the back seat, murmuring to her. Hayes scanned the rear window. Evan braced himself against the dashboard. Leah’s voice crackled in their ears. “Team, the vehicle leaving the north side of the property just sped up. It’s heading toward the access road.”
Eliza’s jaw tightened. “They’re trying to cut us off.”
Hayes leaned forward. “They know this road better than we do.”
Eliza didn’t look away from the windshield. “Then we don’t give them time to use it.”
She pressed harder on the accelerator.
###
Elijah Greyhawk — Point of View
Elijah kept one arm around the girl, the other gripping the seat as the truck bounced over a rut. She clung to him, trembling. He whispered: “You’re okay. We’re almost out.” But he wasn’t sure.
Hayes’s repeated glances behind them were not normal. Eliza’s white knuckles on the wheel suggested something. The forest appeared to close in around them, which wasn’t ideal.
He looked at Evan. “How far to the turnoff?”
“Half a kilometer,” Evan said. “Maybe less.”
Hayes muttered: “They’ll reach the junction before we do.”
Elijah swallowed. “Unless we beat them.”
###
Leah Gagnon — Operations Room (Comms)
Leah’s voice came through, urgent. “Team, listen. The pursuing vehicle is heavier than yours. If they hit the junction first, they’ll block the road.”
Hayes cursed. Eliza kept driving. Leah continued, “You need to reach the fork before they do. If you don’t—”
“We will,” Eliza said. Her voice was calm. Too calm. The calm that came from knowing the alternative was unthinkable.
###
The First Sign
Evan pointed ahead. “Lights.”
Eliza saw them too — faint beams cutting through the trees from the right, bouncing with the rhythm of a fast‑moving vehicle. Hayes leaned forward. “They’re coming in hot.”
Elijah felt the girl stiffen. He whispered: “Don’t look. Just hold on.”
The lights grew brighter. Closer. The network’s vehicle was approaching the junction at speed. If they reached it first—They’d block the road. Trap the team. Forcing a confrontation they couldn’t win.
Eliza whispered, “Not tonight.”
###
The Junction
The access road opened into a wide, flat clearing — the junction where the north road met the main track. The network’s vehicle burst into view from the right — a dark SUV, reinforced, headlights blazing.
Hayes shouted: “They’re going to cut us off!”
Eliza didn’t slow. Didn’t hesitate. Didn’t blink. She aimed straight for the gap. Evan braced himself. “Eliza—!”
The SUV swerved, trying to block them. Eliza jerked the wheel. The truck skidded sideways, tires screaming. For a moment, everything was noise and motion and cold air slamming through the open vents. Then—They shot through the narrowing gap. Barely.
The SUV missed them by inches, skidding across the road and slamming into a snowbank.
Hayes exhaled sharply. “Jesus—”
Eliza didn’t look back. “Hold on.”
###
Elijah Greyhawk — Point of View
Elijah felt the girl bury her face in his chest as the truck bounced violently. He held her tighter. “You’re safe,” he whispered. “We’re out of the compound.”
But they weren’t out of danger. Not yet. The SUV roared back to life behind them, headlights flaring.
Hayes shouted: “They’re still coming!”
Elijah looked at Eliza. “Can we outrun them?”
“No,” she said. “But we can outmaneuver them.”
###
The Forest Road
The access road narrowed again, twisting through dense forest. Branches scraped the sides of the truck. The headlights flickered over roots and rocks. Eliza drove as if she’d been born on these roads — fast, precise, fearless.
Hayes kept his weapon ready. Evan scanned the tree line. Elijah whispered to the girl: “Almost there. Almost.”
Leah’s voice cut in. “Team, you’re approaching the old service bridge. It’s unstable. You need to slow down.”
Eliza shook her head. “If we slow down, they’ll catch us.”
Hayes muttered: “She’s right.”
Elijah swallowed. “Then we don’t slow down.”
###
The Bridge
The bridge appeared suddenly — a narrow span of rusted metal and rotting planks stretching over a deep ravine. Eliza didn’t hesitate. She hit the gas. The truck shot onto the bridge. The planks groaned. Metal screamed. The entire structure shuddered under the weight.
Elijah gripped the girl. Evan gripped the dashboard. Hayes braced himself.
Behind them, the SUV hit the bridge—Rapidly. Hard. It is too late. The bridge gave way. Through the planks went the SUV’s front wheels. The vehicle jerked ahead, halted, and ended up partially hanging over the ravine.
Hayes exhaled. “They’re not following us.”
Eliza kept driving. “Good.”
###
The Forest Beyond
The road became smooth. The forest thinned out. Around them, the night opened.
Elijah finally allowed himself to breathe. The girl whispered, “Are we out?”
Elijah nodded. “Yes.”
Eliza added: “But we’re not safe yet.”
Hayes looked at the map. “Next stop is the rendezvous point. Ten minutes.”
Evan nodded. “Plenty of time.”
Elijah looked at the girl. Her eyes were wide. Her breathing was shaky. But she was alive.
He whispered: “We’re getting you home.”
###
Leah Gagnon — Operations Room (Comms)
Leah’s voice came through, softer now. “Team… you made it.”
Eliza exhaled. “Not yet. But we will.”
Leah hesitated. “There’s something else.”
Hayes frowned. “What?”
Leah swallowed. “Marianne found the transport on the Canadian side. It was empty.”
Elijah’s blood ran cold. Eliza whispered, “Then where are the others?”
Leah’s voice was barely audible. “We don’t know.”