The edge of the mountain overlooked the stretch of beach far below. Alister, Kara, and Milo crouched behind a boulder, catching their breath. Their clothes were soaked from the sudden storm, their bodies trembling from exhaustion. The hunters were not far behind, their voices echoing over the wind.
Alister peered down at the beach. “We need to move. Now. We can make it if we stick together.”
Milo shook his head. “I can’t… I… I can’t believe we made it. But the hunters a just behind us” His voice trembled with panic.
Kara’s hand found his shoulder. “Come on. There’s no way any of us can give up now. We almost made it.”
“I’m going home after this” Milo added jokingly.
Suddenly, a whistle cut through the wind. From behind the boulder stepped Howard. His cheerful grin was gone. In its pla
