A War Within

Chapter 13: The Escape

Darkness enveloped Lukas as he slowly regained consciousness, his head throbbing from the impact. The air was thick with dust, making it hard to breathe, and the only sound was the faint creaking of wood settling around him. Panic surged through his veins as he realized the farmhouse had collapsed, trapping him beneath the rubble.

"Mikhail!" Lukas called out, his voice hoarse and desperate. The silence that followed was unbearable. "Mikhail, where are you?"

A groan echoed from somewhere nearby, and Lukas felt a rush of relief. "I'm here," Mikhail's voice came, strained but alive. "I'm trapped... but I'm okay."

Lukas exhaled, trying to steady his racing heart. "We need to get out of here," he said, his voice firm despite the fear gnawing at him. He shifted slightly, testing the weight of the debris pinning him down. Pain shot through his leg, but he bit back a groan, knowing they didn't have time to dwell on their injuries.

"Can you move?" Lukas asked, straining to see Mikhail in the darkness.

"I think so," Mikhail replied, his voice shaky. "My shoulder... it hurts, but I can move it. I just can't see anything."

"Stay calm," Lukas urged. "We'll find a way out."

The structure creaked ominously above them, a reminder that time was running out. Lukas began to push against the debris, inching his way toward Mikhail's voice. Every movement caused the wreckage around them to shift, sending small showers of dust and debris raining down.

"Careful," Mikhail warned, his voice tight with pain. "The whole thing could come down."

"I know," Lukas muttered, his breath coming in short gasps. "But we have to try."

After what felt like an eternity, Lukas managed to reach Mikhail. He could just make out his silhouette in the dim light filtering through a small gap in the debris. Mikhail's face was pale, his expression tense as he tried to free his arm from beneath a heavy beam.

"Hold on," Lukas said, his voice filled with determination. He wedged his shoulder under the beam, using all his strength to lift it just enough for Mikhail to pull his arm free. Mikhail bit back a cry of pain as he slipped his arm out, clutching his shoulder with his other hand.

"Thank you," Mikhail whispered, his breath ragged.

"We're not out yet," Lukas replied, glancing at the small opening above them. "But we're close. Can you crawl through there?"

Mikhail nodded, wincing as he shifted to his knees. "I'll manage."

They worked together, moving debris piece by piece to widen the opening. Each time the structure groaned, they froze, waiting to see if the whole thing would collapse. The tension was unbearable, but they pressed on, driven by the need to escape.

Finally, the opening was just wide enough for them to crawl through. Lukas helped Mikhail first, guiding him as he squeezed through the narrow gap. Mikhail emerged into the cold night air, collapsing onto the snow outside. Lukas followed quickly, just as a final creak signaled the collapse of more of the farmhouse behind them.

They lay in the snow for a moment, gasping for breath, the cold biting at their exposed skin. The farmhouse continued to settle, the sound of the collapse echoing through the night. Lukas knew they couldn't stay there—anyone nearby would have heard the noise.

"We need to move," Lukas said, pushing himself up despite the pain in his leg. He reached down to help Mikhail to his feet, noting the way he favored his injured shoulder. "Can you walk?"

Mikhail nodded, though his expression was strained. "Yes... but we need to find shelter."

Lukas agreed, and together they limped away from the collapsed farmhouse, their breath visible in the frigid air. The snow crunched beneath their boots as they moved as quickly as their injuries would allow. Every sound seemed amplified in the quiet of the night, making them both jumpy and alert.

After what felt like hours, they found a small grove of trees at the edge of the forest. It wasn't much, but it offered some cover from the elements and potential pursuers. Lukas led Mikhail to the base of a large tree, where they finally stopped to catch their breath.

"We'll stay here for a while," Lukas said, kneeling to inspect Mikhail's shoulder. "We need to tend to these wounds."

Mikhail winced as Lukas gently prodded his shoulder, his face pale with pain. "I'll be fine," he insisted, though his voice lacked conviction.

Lukas shook his head. "You're hurt, Mikhail. We both are. We need to rest and regroup before we move on."

Mikhail nodded, too exhausted to argue. He watched as Lukas carefully tore a strip of cloth from his own shirt and used it to bind Mikhail's shoulder, trying to offer some support to the injured joint. The gesture was tender, and Mikhail couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion as Lukas worked.

"You saved my life back there," Mikhail said quietly, his eyes meeting Lukas's.

"We saved each other," Lukas replied, his voice soft. "We always do."

They sat together in the quiet of the night, the cold seeping into their bones. But there was a warmth between them, a bond that had only grown stronger with each trial they faced. For a moment, the world outside seemed distant, and all that mattered was that they were still together.

As the exhaustion began to take its toll, they huddled close for warmth, leaning on each other for support. Lukas's arm around Mikhail's shoulders was both comforting and protective, a silent promise that they would get through this—together.

"We need to figure out our next move," Lukas murmured, his voice heavy with fatigue. "But for now, let's rest."

Mikhail nodded, his eyes drifting closed as he leaned against Lukas. The last thing he remembered before sleep claimed him was the steady rhythm of Lukas's heartbeat, a reassuring sound in the otherwise silent night.