Chapter 13
The forest enveloped them.
Lena stumbled for air as she ran, her boots into the soggy ground and small twigs crackling under her. The fingertips of her fingertips grazed against his skin, but he barely noticed.
They heard a noise behind them. The beam tore through the darkness, scything through the thick woods like a searchlight. The men would not relent.
Noah stood beside her, gasping like a working man, bag to his chest. The records he had stolen - evidence of Ethan's guilt - were contained within.
They had risked everything for him.
Now they could barely manage. Lena ducked under a branch that hung too low, her heart pounding in her ribcage. The adrenaline was dissipating and the heat was creeping in. His shoulders bucked from the shock, his legs aching, and every nerve in his body was screaming relief.
Stopping wasn't on the agenda.
Noah grabbed her hand and brought her to a stop. Lena almost choked. "What the."
He put a finger to his lips and stepped forward.
Through the trees, the woods narrowed, revealing a curving road. A black SUV on the shoulder, engine running.
The car was traveling quickly. Lena was nauseated.
Not theirs.
Noah took a deep breath. "They have a backup."
Lena set her lips together. "Of course they do."
He looked out at the road, his heart racing. There were not many of them. If they tried to cross, they would be caught in an instant.
And if they returned.
The men were pinned.
Noah and I locked eyes. "We have to step in."
Lena nodded. "I have a plan."
---
Alternative
Noah's optimism was boundless.
Then he nodded. "Hello."
Lena smiled, still holding the knife full of Ethan's second blood on demand. "I don't always?"
Noah didn't answer.
Because they both knew the truth. It wasn't like that.
Lena inhaled and ran into a tree, circumventing the SUV.
The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth.
The men who emerged from the car spoke in complicated voices, their faces eerie. They hadn't spotted him yet. Good.
He bowed, still holding the rock.
Then he threw it.
The sound of it striking the pavement was sharp, sudden - so loud that it made the men spin around them and their guns crack.
Lena made her opportunity. He ran across the street.
Noah did the same for the assault, running quickly.
The moment their feet landed on the pavement, the men realized their mistake.
"Yes!" one of them shouted.
Gunfire. Lena scrambled under the SUV for cover, her heart pounding. The shots were coming from above and below, but he didn't care, his heart pounding against his ribs.
Noah wasn't so lucky.
A scream of pain tore from him as the bullet grazed his arm.
Lena cursed. Change of plans.
He crawled inside, pulled the handle of the SUV, and swung it open. The guy inside barely had a second's warning before he stabbed his knife into his leg.
He screamed.
Lena pulled him out. "Here!" he yelled.
He was already on the move.
He tossed himself into the passenger seat while Lena sprang into the back of the car, her hand reaching for the keys.
It was still on fire.
He translated them.
The engine roared to life. The other men moved towards them.
Lena loaded him.
The SUV lurched forward, tires screeching as it hit the road.
The bullet shattered the back door.
Lena was unconscious. They are alive.
So far.
---
Nowhere to go
They traveled in silence.
Noah gritted his teeth, spitting blood, his face twisted in the dashboard light.
Lena looked at him. "Let me see."
"I'm fine," he said.
She rolled her eyes and stepped to take his hand. The cut was ugly - it was deeply slashed, still bleeding, but not deep enough to be fatal.
"We have to get somewhere safe," he said.
Noah smiled. "Defense statement."
Lena's hands clenched on the steering wheel.
He did not answer.
The thing is - there is no place that is safe.
Ethan has men all around.
Noah's bag is full of documents? They were given the death penalty.
He took a deep breath, his heart pounding.
They had to leave.
---
New threats
They were in the outskirts of town before things came out.
The SUV was in plain sight. He aligned with Ethan's men. He could be traced.
They must be expelled.
Lena drove to an empty lot near the old train depot. The night was quiet. Be quiet.
He turned off the engine.
He said, "Get out."
Noah rolled his eyes. "The ruler."
He smiled. "You'll like it."
But he still groaned and laughed. But he steadied himself quickly.
They went down.
The air was charged.
Lena's mind was screaming at her. Something is wrong.
He turned around - like a shape coming out of nothing.
Big.
Be warm.
Use your mouth. Lena's stomach balled up.
She knew this man.
The cold smile on his face was all she needed to hear.
He was waiting for them.
"Hello Lena," he said softly. "Noah."
Noah stood to his left. "Shit."
Lena struggled to stay upright. "What do you want?"
The man's head swiveled. "Isn't that obvious?"
Lena's heartbeat thudded.
This was no ordinary man in power. This is Ethan the repairman.
The man whose name had been spoken in the whisper.
The one Ethan hired when he needed someone gone.
Lena stabbed her knife into his direction.
The doctor smiled. Then what-
Shadows were stirring in more directions.
Leena's heart lurched.
That's how they were.
The doctor stepped closer. "You have to stop, Lena."
Noah's voice was gentle. "What do you want?"
The doctor smiled. "Come on, now you know."
Lena's fists were clenched.
They weren't going to get away with this so easily.
The nurses were hiding. There is no escape.
No alternative.
No chance.
Lena came up straight, bracing.
If it is the end, it is better to go to war.