Chapter 11 - Shoreline Reckoning
Using an unpowered life raft, they slipped away into the heavy maritime fog while the abandoned tugboat drifted toward the harbor mouth, burning like a funeral pyre. The decoy drew Victor's cutter away, allowing Adrian to row toward the desolate marshlands bordering the industrial district.
They dragged the raft onto the muddy bank beneath the skeletons of abandoned chemical plants. Adrian stumbled, his breath ragged, clutching his bleeding side. Clara dropped to her knees beside him in the weeds, setting Sarah wrapped safely between two dry coats.
"You're losing too much blood," Clara said, ripping her own sleeve to press against his wound.
"It's nothing," he lied, his skin taking on an ashen hue in the grey pre-dawn light. "Victor will realize the boat was empty within twenty minutes. We need to reach the railyard. The southern freight train leaves at 5:30."
Clara looked at him, her face smeared with mud and soot, but her gaze burning with an anger that matched his own. "We aren't running to Canada, Adrian. Victor won't stop. He'll hunt Sarah to the ends of the earth for that code. He'll hunt my sister. He'll hunt us."
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Adrian raised his eyes, watching the fierce resolve in her face. "What are you saying?"
"We stop running," Clara whispered. "You said you owe them everything. Show me how to finish this."
