Chapter 10 - The Forest Ridge
Driven by pure adrenaline, Arthur grabbed the rungs of the maintenance ladder, his teeth grinding against the agony in his side as Maya pushed him upward from below. Behind them, heavy military boots slammed against the concrete floor of the lower tunnel, accompanied by the cold, barking orders of Dorian's tactical commander.
""First squad to the dock! Second squad check the auxiliary vents! Dorian wants the girl alive, execute the husband on sight!""
Maya slammed the heavy steel grating shut behind her, sliding the emergency manual bolt into place. Sparks showered down as automatic fire hit the underside of the grate, but the reinforced titanium held.
They scrambled out of the exhaust shaft into the frigid night air, stumbling into the dense pine woods that carpeted the ridge overlooking the burning estate. Below them, smoke billowed from the roof of the manor, while distant sirens wailed uselessly along the valley road.
Arthur collapsed onto his knees against the damp earth, clutching his wound. Maya dropped beside him, breathing heavily, pine needles sticking to her torn white dress.
""One mile,"" Arthur gasped, pointing toward the winding gravel road below the trees. ""The ranger station is past the bend.""
""Can you walk?"" Maya asked, wiping sweat and mud from his forehead.
""I have to,"" Arthur muttered, leaning against a tree trunk to haul himself upright.
They moved through the dense brush, their steps muffled by the thick carpet of pine needles. The cold wind bit into Maya’s bare shoulders, but the numbness was a welcome relief from the burning terror of the last hour. She looked back one final time at the burning manor. Everything she had known for three years was turning to ash—her paintings, her quiet studio, her peaceful illusions.
When they broke through the tree line near the deserted ranger station, the silver sedan was sitting beneath an old oak tree, completely dark.
Maya rushed forward, dropping to her knees by the front tire and retrieving the magnetic key box. She unlocked the driver’s door and helped Arthur into the passenger seat. He sank back against the leather, his skin clammy and gray.
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Maya slid into the driver's seat, pressing the ignition button. The engine purred to life with a quiet, powerful hum. She shifted into drive, throwing the car into reverse just as two sets of high-beam headlights flared to life behind them, blinding her in the rearview mirror.
Dorian’s black SUVs had anticipated the escape route. The front SUV accelerated violently, aiming directly for their rear bumper.
