Brooks:
I carried Hattie and her bags through the forest until I made it back to the woodline. The moment I had her secured in the passenger seat, I threw the truck into gear and took off, leaving nothing but dust and darkness behind us. The narrow trail through the woods was barely visible in the dim glow of my headlights, the branches reaching out like grasping hands. I gripped the wheel tighter, determined to keep moving.
Hattie was silent beside me, clutching her bag to her chest. I could feel her tension—hell, I was tense too—but I couldn’t stop. Not yet. Not until we were far enough away that no one could find us.
The tires bounced over rough terrain, the truck rattling as I navigated the twisting path. Finally, after what felt like forever, I spotted the break in the trees ahea
