Then the worst sound imaginable.
It backfired.
The loud crack ricocheted through the quiet morning, ripping through silence, announcing to the world where we were.
“Fuck!” I pounded the dash with my fist. My heart stopped beating.
Nila huddled in her seat, panic glistening in her eyes. “What do we do?”
I wanted to tell her this wasn’t the end. That we still had a chance. But I didn’t have the breath.
I tore my gaze to the entrance gates.
Shit.
A guard appeared, bleary eyed and not doing his duty. He jogged to his post, raising his weapon, searching for the threat.
I didn’t wait for a bullet or an invitation to leave.
This was the only chance we had.
“Hold on!” Wrenching the gear stick, I forced the old Jeep into gear and shot forward.
Nila squealed as we fishtailed and pebbles pinged below us. The tyres chewed up dirt, snarling faster and faster.
The guard aimed.
“Go!” Nila screamed, gripping the dirty fabric of her chair. “Go. Go. Go!”
I forced the car faster. It lurched forward, squealing in a cloud of dust.
The guard dropped his arm, ducking out of the way as we careened over the half-way point, swerving around parked cars.
Closer.
Closer.
Come on. Come on.
He fisted a walkie talkie on his vest, his face bouncing between shock and surprise.
Yanking the steering wheel, we hurtled straight for him. I wouldn’t let him gather forces. Not now. Not when we were so close.
The gate and final freedom rose before us, promising happiness the moment we barrelled through it.
“We’ll make it. We’ll make it,” Nila chanted, holding the dash with white fingers.
I stomped harder on the gas, preparing to ram the entry. “We will. Almost there.”
My heart chugged and hope unfurled with joyous frissions at the thought of finally,finally, saving Nila and living up to my promises.
Only...
Fate wasn’t on our side, after all.
The gates swung wide and a barrier of men appeared from either side, marching in perfect combat, weapons drawn and armed.
“No!” Nila yelled, her voice mixing with the screaming engine.
