As they ran down the tunnel, the sound of tumbling rocks seemed to be pursuing them. Mira's heart was pounding inside her chest as she ran more desperately, eager to be well away from this collapsing cave.
"Don't stop! Keep running, don't look back!" Lila shouted as her resolution laced through her voice.
They burst from the tunnel out into a bright clearing with the storm raging above. Mira squinted her eyes in the sudden light, trying to gain her bearings.
"Where now?" Victor asked wildly, searching around.
"There's a road just ahead," Sophia said, pointing, her eyes scanning the area. "If we can get to it, we can flag down help.
But before they could move, a flash of lightning illuminated the sky, and they heard the distant roar. Mira looked up, her stomach dropping, to see dark clouds swirling above, forming into a massive storm front.
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"We don't have much time!" Lila shouted over the air, still tracking the weather patterns through her device. "We need to find shelter!"
Still bound but curiously serene, Kintz sneered, "You're running out of options. The storm is only going to get worse, and you'll be caught in the eye of it."
Saying nothing to him, Mira plunged ahead to take the lead down the road. "We have to keep moving!" she pressed on.
They reached the road just as the wind howled through, knocking Mira off balance. She fell, but immediately got to her feet again and looked around at her team.
"Look!" Victor screamed, pointing at a faraway vehicle. "Help is coming!
As the car approached, a wave of hope crashed over her. But just as they were about to flag them down, the car suddenly swerved into the ditch and the driver, leaning from the window, yelled something unintelligible before speeding off.
"What was that?" Lila exclaimed with wide eyes.
Kintz laughed darkly. "I told you-you can't escape this storm. The Collective's reach is far and wide."
The sudden succession of explosions sent the ground in every direction, having it shake very violently. "We need to find cover!" yelled Sophia, but before they could act, heaven opened up and rain came in torrents, which rapidly turned into mud.