Chapter 10
Splinters of wood exploded into the air as automatic gunfire shredded the cabin’s siding. David scrambled on all fours through the brush, clutching Clara tightly against his chest as bullets buzzed overhead like angry hornets. He hit the steep incline leading down toward the rushing waters of the Blackwood River, sliding uncontrollably down the muddy bank until they plunged headfirst into the freezing, waist-deep current.
The shock of the icy water knocked the breath right out of David’s lungs. He surfaced coughing and sputtering, holding Clara high above his head as the swift current tried to drag them downstream.
"Dad! I'm cold!" Clara cried out, her teeth chattering uncontrollably as she clung to his neck.
"I know, baby, keep kicking! Just keep kicking!" David urged, fighting against the churning white water with every ounce of strength he had left.
Behind them, flashlights swept wildly along the riverbank. Officer Miller’s voice echoed across the water, amplified by a bullhorn.
"Stop right there! You cannot escape the valley! Every road is blocked!"
David ignored the shouts, focusing entirely on the opposite bank where a thick wall of brambles offered concealment. With a final, desperate heave, he scrambled up the muddy slope, dragging Clara out of the freezing current and collapsing into the safety of the dark forest. They were soaked to the bone, shivering violently, and completely exhausted, but they had bought themselves a few precious minutes.
He pulled Clara into the hollow of an ancient oak tree, wrapping his torn jacket around her shoulders.
"Listen to me, Clara," David said, his voice urgent and steady despite his own shaking hands. "We need to get to the old railway station. There's an emergency transmitter there that connects directly to the state police dispatcher outside this county."
Clara nodded weakly, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. "My head hurts, Dad."
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David brushed a stray lock of hair away from her shaved temple, fighting back a fresh wave of tears. "I know, sweetheart. We're going to make them pay for every single inch."
He helped her to her feet, supporting her weight as they began the grueling trek through the dark woods toward the abandoned tracks. But as they crested the ridge overlooking the railway line, the red and blue flashing lights of three police cruisers parked by the old station signaled that their destination had already been compromised.
