Chapter 7 - The Mountain Pass
The bus wound its way up the treacherous mountain roads, the air growing colder and the sky darkening with incoming snow. She kept her eyes glued to the rearview mirror above the driver's head. The black SUV was still there, maintaining a perfect, menacing distance. They knew she was on the bus. Why hadn't they stopped it? They were waiting for isolation. As the snow began to fall heavier, the road became slick and dangerous. Lily woke up, coughing a dry, raspy cough. "Mommy, I'm cold," she whimpered. The mother wrapped the oversized hoodie tighter around the child, her heart breaking. Suddenly, the bus lurched forward, the brakes squealing in protest. The driver cursed loudly as the heavy vehicle slid on a patch of black ice. The bus slammed into the guardrail, teetering on the edge of a steep ravine. The engine died, plunging the interior into darkness. Through the back window, the headlights of the black SUV cut through the snow as it slowly pulled up directly behind them, and three men stepped out into the blizzard.
