Alex’s POV
The helicopter’s rhythmic hum filled the cabin, yet my mind refused to settle. I stared at the horizon, the dark forest shrinking beneath us. Each passing second brought us closer to safety, but the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on my shoulders.
Isabella clutched the backpack as if it were her lifeline. Her face, pale and streaked with dirt, revealed the same exhaustion I felt. Derek, sitting opposite her, had his head leaned back against the cabin wall, eyes closed but clearly not asleep. His hand rested on the grip of his pistol—always ready, always alert.
Oracle broke the silence, her voice cutting through the low thrum of the blades. “What’s the plan now, Alex? Getting the USB drive was the easy part.”
I shifted my gaze to her, noting the faint flicker of doub
