One For Three (COMPLETED)

Chapter 103 : Back

Vegas

All my senses are on alert. Something is wrong. A distant noise, almost imperceptible, resonates in the tunnel. My instinct screams at me that we are no longer safe.

I look at Pete, who sleeps peacefully next to me. My heart tightens at the idea of having to wake him up, but there is no other choice. Slowly, I shake his shoulder.

-Pete, wake up. We have to move now.

Pete opens his eyes, still groggy, but he immediately sees the seriousness of the situation in my eyes. Without asking questions, he gets up and begins to gather our things.

I listen, trying to pick up other sounds. The footsteps resonate weakly, but they are getting closer. My heart beats everything. We must disappear before they get here.

Pete is fast and effective, despite his injured ankle. I constantly monitor the entrance to the tunnel, watching for the slightest movement.

-We have to find a way out.

I try to keep calm despite the panic that threatens to invade me.

-These tunnels are a labyrinth. If we move fast enough, we can sow them.

Pete nods. We finish cleaning the camp. I take the bags on my back and Pete in my arms. We sink deeper into the tunnel, my steps resonating faintly in the dark. Pete holds the flashlight firmly, illuminating our path while keeping an ear attentive to the noises behind us.

- How many do you think they are?

- Difficult to say but no matter their number, we must sow them.

I speed up the pace, every second that passes is a chance to lose them. But the oppressive feeling of imminent danger does not leave me. Despite my determination, I feel the situation turning against me and Pete while I keep chaining the corridors.

I don't see the floor sliding in front of me and, in an instant, I lose my balance. We are falling heavily. Pete utters a cry of pain, which resonates in the tunnel before he is silent, biting his lip to hold back the screams. Tears run down his cheeks, betraying the intense suffering he endures.

-Pete! Shit, I'm sorry!

I'm panicked, my trembling hands trying to straighten it gently. Pete lets himself go, trying to hide his pain. My heart tightens when I see it this way, and guilt invades me. But we don't have time to linger. I have to put him back up and we must keep moving forward.

I lift it in my arms. My left leg hurts, every step is a fight against pain, but I don't stop. We must move forward, at all costs.

Pete clings to me, his breathing panting against my neck. I clench my teeth, focused on our goal. Each step resonates in the tunnel, and I pray that the noise of our pursuers will not get any closer.

-It's going to be okay, Pete. We're going to get out of it.

The tunnels seem endless, but the hope of finding a way out pushes me to continue.

I feel my left leg continue to weaken, but I refuse to give in. The noises of footsteps behind us seem to intensify, and I know that we are short of time. Seeing that time is running out and that every second counts, I make a difficult decision.

- We can't afford to hang out anymore, Pete. I'm going to give up our bags.

Pete nods his head weakly, understanding. I put the bags on the floor, leaving behind everything that could slow us down. The main thing is to get out of it alive.

I take him back in my arms, feeling a slight relief without the extra weight of the bags. My left leg still makes me suffer, but the urgency and adrenaline push me to ignore the pain.