The riverbank was quiet except for the rush of water and the distant hum of insects.
The calm was deceptive, a cruel contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.
Emily sat with her back against a moss-covered rock, her body aching and her mind racing.
Her rifle lay across her lap, its barrel scorched from overuse.
Theo paced nearby, his hands clenched into fists,His usually light-hearted demeanor was gone, replaced by a taut frustration that made the air feel heavy.
Damien, as always, was composed, crouched at the water's edge as he filled a canteen.
Emily broke the silence first. "We're lucky to be alive."
Theo stopped pacing, his eyes blazing as he turned to face her. "Lucky? That was a slaughter! They were ready for us, Emily.
They knew exactly what we were planning."
Damien stood, his movements deliberate. "He's right," he said. "They weren't just tracking us—they were anticipating us. Every move we made, they were one step ahead."
