**Coastal Highway — Third Day, 6:41 PM**
Sunlight flickered through the trees as the sedan wound up the mountainside. The radio was off. Neither of them had spoken for twenty minutes.
Albert finally broke the silence. “You've been quieter."
“I'm counting."
“Counting what?"
“Days. Variables. Heartbeats."
He glanced sideways. “That's not ominous at all."
She didn't smile.
**The Mirror**
Headlights appeared behind them. Fast. Bright.
Albert tensed. “That car's been trailing since the last town."
She checked the side mirror. “Blue sedan. No plates."
Albert pressed the gas.
The blue car surged forward. Too fast. Too close.
“Hold on," Albert snapped, swerving.
Gunshots cracked through the air.
The windshield exploded. Glass sprayed.
Emerie screamed. The car veered.
Tires screec
