Chapter 2 - The Dark Woods
Nadia felt the world spin out of control as her vehicle tumbled down the steep embankment.
Metal crunched and glass shattered in a terrifying symphony of destruction.
The airbags deployed with a violent punch, leaving her breathless and disoriented.
When the car finally came to a halt, it was resting on its roof in a thick cluster of pine trees.
Nadia unbuckled her seatbelt and crashed onto the ceiling of the overturned cabin.
She ignored the sharp pain in her shoulder and frantically searched for her belongings in the dark.
Her fingers brushed against the glowing USB drive, and she quickly shoved it deep into her jacket pocket.
She kicked the shattered windshield until a hole opened up large enough for her to crawl through.
The cool night air hit her face, mixed with the acrid smell of burning oil and rubber.
Above her on the highway, the black SUV screeched to a halt.
She heard the heavy thud of car doors opening and the crunch of boots on the gravel.
"Check the wreck and make sure she is dead," a deep, unfamiliar voice ordered.
Nadia did not wait to see who was coming down the hill.
She scrambled into the dense underbrush, letting the absolute darkness of the forest swallow her.
Flashlight beams cut through the trees like glowing swords, searching for any sign of movement.
She held her breath, pressing her back against the damp bark of a massive oak tree.
Footsteps approached her hiding spot, snapping dry twigs with every heavy stride.
"I see blood on the glass, boss, but the body is gone," a man shouted into the darkness.
Nadia quietly pulled her cell phone from her pocket to call for help.
The screen was completely cracked, but it still flickered with a faint light.
She dialed the emergency number for the FBI field office, a contact given to her by an investigative journalist.
May you like
The call connected, but the voice on the other end made her blood run entirely cold.
"Did you really think we wouldn't clone your phone, Nadia?" Borel whispered through the speaker.
