Shihab drove like a man possessed, the truck's headlights cutting through the deepening gloom. The coordinates from Karam burned in his mind. Every second felt like an hour, every shadow looked like his brother.
He took a shortcut through a neglected industrial park, the road little more than a dirt track. The recent rains had turned sections into a bog. The truck’s tires spun, then sank, digging themselves deep into the thick mud.
"No, no, no!" Shihab slammed his hands on the steering wheel. He threw the door open, intending to push, but froze.
The sound of the struggling engine had drawn them. Dozens of figures emerged from between the decaying warehouses, their groans forming a horrifying chorus. He was surrounded, cut off from the truck.
Panic threatened to choke him. Ayham was wai
