Sounded like the perfect plan. Now they just had to hope nothing went wrong.
January 25th
12:45 A.M.
Keep going.
Keep going.
Keep going.
Was Indigo saying those words out loud, or just inside her head?
Between the thundering of her pulse, and the harsh sound of her breaths sawing in and out of her chest, she didn't really know.
All she knew was that it was getting harder and harder to do.
As badly as she wanted to keep going, sooner rather than later, her body was going to give up on her. Already she wasn't sure how she was still on her feet, still moving, even if she was going a whole lot slower than she had been at first.
Now she no longer felt the cold, and she highly doubted that had anything to do with her enhanced ability to tolerate extreme temperatures.
If she took the time to look down at her naked body, she was sure she would find it littered with marks from her run through the forest, scratches and bruises dotting her skin, but she had no time and no interest in seeing how badly she was banged up. If she couldn’t feel them, they didn't exist, that was her philosophy right about now, and she thought it was a pretty good one.
“I know you're out here somewhere, bait,” burning man’s voice floated to her through the dark.
Each time he called out to her, reminding her of his presence as if she’d be able to forget, his position from her was different. Sometimes he was closer, so close she was sure that if she slowed down and turned her head, she’d be able to see him emerging through the trees to catch her. Other times he was further away, giving her hope that if she just kept going, she could get away from him for good.
At least she knew he wasn't following a specific trail she was leaving behind. He might have seen which way she ran when she climbed out of the car, but he didn't know exactly where she was, and Indigo was pretty sure that was the only thing keeping her safe.
If he knew how to better track her, she’d already be back in his clutches.
Back in Dr. Gardner’s clutches.
She so badly wanted to find Voodoo, not just becauseshe’d be safe with him, but because she wanted him to know that the revenge he sought was within his grasp.
Since burning man wasn't taunting her with the knowledge that using her as bait had worked, and Voodoo and his teammates had been captured, she knew they were all still safe.
Safe but out there somewhere.
Pausing for a moment, she leaned up against the closest tree to catch her breath, needing a brief respite more than she needed to keep putting distance between her and the burning man. Exhaustion pressed heavily down upon her, and it would be so easy to give in to it.
All she had to do was stop.
Stop running.
Stop fighting.
Stop trying to live.
Find a small space that would make her feel safe, curl up inside it, let her eyes fall closed, and wait for the inevitable.
An enhanced ability to endure harsh conditions didn't mean that she was impervious to them. Like she’d almost succumbed to hypothermia earlier, it would come for her again, especially when she was in this weakened state.
Closing her eyes would be the equivalent of a death sentence. So she started moving again. No longer really running, but as close as she could get to it.
Dying wasn't an option. She couldn’t do that to Voodoo. Already, he’d risked so much for her. He’d stayed out there with her, moving slower, at her speed, rather than just rushing on to join his team. If he could put his life on the line for her even though they’d only just met, then she couldn’t give up now.
Must keep going.
