I didn't turn my head around to look at the highway. I kept my head down, my boots moving forward in a slow, defeated rhythm, my tears completely blurring my vision until the grey road ahead looked like a watery mess. I figured it was just another random traveler or perhaps a rival scout checking the border lines.
But then, the loud, rumbling sound of the powerful engine began to significantly slow down. The heavy tires kicked up a small cloud of dust as the vehicle pulled up to a sharp, sudden stop right along the gravel shoulder, just a few feet away from my walking frame.
“Tessa?”
The deep, gravelly voice cut through the quiet air like a sudden crack of lightning. It was Stone’s voice. It sounded completely raw, hoarse, and filled with a massive wave of pure, unadulterated disbelief.
