Chapter 4 - The Woods
The blinding headlights rapidly approached us, cutting fiercely through the dense darkness of the deserted country road.
Sarah screamed for us to abandon the dead vehicle and run as fast as we could into the dense woods.
I frantically unbuckled my seatbelt, grabbed Emma by the hand, and threw my heavy door open.
Sarah picked up Lily and dragged her toward the dark tree line just as the approaching black van slammed hard on its brakes.
Three massive men in dark tactical gear jumped out of the vehicle with heavy flashlights and automatic weapons raised.
We ran blindly through the thick brush, completely ignoring the sharp branches tearing viciously at our skin and clothes.
My lungs burned with every desperate breath, but I absolutely refused to slow my pace.
Emma was crying quietly, her small hand gripping my fingers with terrifying, desperate strength.
I heard the heavily armed men crashing through the woods directly behind us, their heavy boots breaking branches and crushing dry leaves.
One of the men shouted loudly that they only needed the girl with the tracker, and everyone else was entirely expendable.
Sarah suddenly stopped running and shoved a crying Lily forcefully into my arms.
She told me there was an old, abandoned hunting cabin about a mile north where we could safely hide.
Before I could argue with her, Sarah raised her stolen gun and ran fiercely back toward our pursuers.
A deafening gunshot echoed violently through the silent forest, followed instantly by a terrifying scream of pain.
I forced myself to keep moving forward, carrying Lily's weight while dragging Emma through the slippery mud.
We finally broke through the dense tree line and saw the dark, imposing silhouette of the wooden hunting cabin.
I kicked the rotting wooden door open and rushed inside, locking the heavy iron deadbolt securely behind us.
I collapsed onto the dusty floorboards, gasping for air and holding the two girls tightly against my chest.
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Suddenly, a bright match flared in the corner of the dark room, illuminating a man sitting calmly in a rocking chair.
Greg smiled warmly at us and said he had been waiting a very long time for a family reunion.
