HERS TO PROTECT

Chapter 14

Pursuit

Ethan and Lia hid in the cave's darkness, their hearts beating as footsteps and terrible cries came from outside.

"We can't stay here," Lia muttered, barely audible above their heart rate. "We need to find another hiding spot."

Ethan nodded, his brow furrowed with anxiety. "But where can we go? There are so many of them out there."

Lia squeezed his hand, trying to reassure him despite her uncertainty. "Trust me."

The footsteps grew louder, and Lia's breath caught in her throat. "Did you hear that? They're getting closer."

"Yeah," Ethan replied, his jaw tightening. "We have to move now."

Lia peeked out from the cave entrance, careful not to make any noise. "They're close. Don't move until I say it's safe."

Every muscle in Ethan's body was tense as he held his breath. Lia gestured for him to stay low and moved silently toward the back of the cave, where they had discovered a tiny hole large enough to slip through earlier.

"Come on, Ethan," she whispered urgently. "We can get through here."

Ethan followed quickly but quietly, squeezing through the narrow passage as the rough walls scraped against their skin. As they emerged into another small space, the sounds from outside faded slightly.

"I thought they had us," Ethan said, shaking. "What's next?"

"We'll head back to the beach," Lia replied, her voice steady with determination. "We can get assistance there. But we need to be careful. The sun is setting, but it's still light enough for them to spot us."

"But what if they see us again?" Ethan asked, anxiety creeping into his voice.

Lia looked into his eyes, her expression resolute. "Then we fight."

They carefully investigated the underground tunnel, scanning for danger, with newfound purpose. Lia led the way, her senses heightened, while Ethan stayed close behind.

"I hear something," Lia whispered, stopping suddenly.

Ethan strained his ears. "What is it?"

"Sounds like... water," They softly entered the river, the chilly water soothing their weary feet. "There might be a way out."

Their pace quickened as they followed the sound. As they rounded a corner, a faint light emerged ahead—the glimmer of water reflecting on the cave walls.

"You're right," Ethan said, relief flooding his voice. "There's a way out."

"Careful," Lia cautioned. "There might be guards."

They approached the exit cautiously, peering out to see a small stream leading into the forest. The sunset light casts a warm glow over the landscape, promising safety.

"I don't see anyone," Ethan observed. "We need to move quickly, Lia. Stay close."

They left the cave silently and stepped into the forest, where the pleasant evening air contrasted sharply with the heavy darkness they had just escaped. Moving swiftly yet quietly, the sound of the river masked their footsteps.

The forest offered some cover, but Ethan and Lia knew they couldn't let their guard down. Navigating through thick foliage, Lia's eyes constantly scanned her surroundings.

"There's a river up ahead," she noted. "We can follow it to hide our tracks."

Ethan nodded. "Good idea. It'll be harder for them to follow us without footprints."