Sirens wailed faintly above, officers converging. Red lights flickered through trees. Elise’s phone buzzed weakly—battery nearly gone. A voice rasped, “Share location, now.” She lied, whispering she would, but turned the screen dark. She couldn’t let rifles decide Shadow’s fate. She needed to reach them before the others did.
The rain roared louder as Elise edged closer. “Theo,” she whispered, hands trembling. The boy whimpered, clutching his scarf. Shadow shifted, muscles coiled like wires. Any wrong move could break everything. Elise raised her palms slowly, voice quivering: “Easy, Shadow. Easy.” Behind her, boots pounded nearer, rifles clinking into place.