The forest burned in patches behind them, the explosions leaving a trail of destruction as Claire and John stumbled through the trees. Every muscle in Claire’s body screamed in protest, but she forced herself to keep moving. The faint sound of engines in the distance sent a shiver down her spine.
“They’re closing in,” she said, her voice trembling.
John’s grip on her hand tightened as he glanced over his shoulder. “We’ll lose them. We have to.”
“How?” Claire asked, struggling to keep up. “We’re outnumbered, outgunned, and—”
“And alive,” John interrupted, his tone firm. “That’s all that matters right now.”
The headlights grew brighter behind them, the hum of engines cutting through the night. John scanned the area, his gaze landing on a narrow ravine just ahead.
“Down there,” he said,
