The convoy split into two, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow. The vehicles rumbled through the jungle, their engines roaring like wild beasts, the sound of their tires grinding through the dirt deafening. August’s heart raced in his chest as he processed the split decision they had to make. One vehicle was headed toward the mountains, and the other into the city. Both had guards, both had drones. But only one could carry Sabrina. Or so they hoped.

"Which one do we go for?" Jude asked, his voice tight with urgency.

"We take the one heading into the mountains," August said, his voice steady. The map from the system still flashed in front of him, showing them the terrain, the locations of enemy forces, but there was an edge of uncertainty in his mind. He didn’t know if it was the right choice. He just knew it was their best chance.

Jude didn't say anything, just nodded. But August could see the hesitation in his eyes. He could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He had no way of knowing for sure which vehicle Sabrina was in. But they had to act. They had to move. The longer they waited, the more likely it was that Sabrina would be moved further away. Or worse, lost forever.

The group sprinted forward, darting through the trees, making their way toward the convoy that was headed toward the mountains. The thick underbrush provided cover for a while, but it wouldn’t last long. They had to reach the vehicle before the mercenaries realized what was happening.

“Move fast!” August hissed, looking over his shoulder to make sure they were all staying close. “We can’t let them get a bead on us.”

Lara moved with practiced efficiency, her rifle slung over her shoulder, but her eyes were alert, scanning the surroundings for any movement. Cara, ever the pragmatist, moved without question, though August could see the tension in her jaw. Jude was lagging behind slightly, his expression unreadable.

The convoy grew closer, and the lead vehicle slowed, the tires kicking up dirt as it turned onto a narrow path that would lead them up into the mountains. August’s heart skipped a beat. This was it. They were almost there.

“We need to move into position,” August said. “Once we get close, I’ll hack the security system. We disable the drones, then take out the guards.”

Lara’s voice was a low whisper. “You sure about this? We’re taking a big risk.”

“It’s the only shot we’ve got,” August said, voice low but firm. “We have to find Sabrina.”

They reached the edge of the path, their bodies pressed close to the trees as they crouched down, waiting for the convoy to pass. The wind rustled the leaves above, the sound a soft hiss in the quiet stillness. August held his breath, fingers hovering over his hacking module, ready to act.

The convoy passed within a hundred yards, just close enough for August to get a clear read on the security systems of the lead vehicle. He tapped into the system, and the faint buzz of the drones echoed in his mind. He disabled the first one with ease, and then the second. The third, however, was trickier. The system had been glitching again, but August pushed through, ignoring the frustration that threatened to rise within him. He had to stay focused.

The convoy continued forward, oblivious to their presence. The moment they were in range, August signaled.

“Go!”

They sprinted forward, darting from one patch of cover to the next. The lead vehicle came into view, and August’s eyes locked on it. This was their chance. This was where Sabrina was.

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They reached the side of the truck, and August didn’t hesitate. He pulled open the door, ready to grab whoever was inside. But as he looked inside, his stomach sank.

There was no one there.

He stared for a split second, disbelieving. The truck was empty—no Sabrina, no other prisoners, no sign of her at all. Just equipment, weapons, and supplies.

“What the hell?” Jude muttered, his voice tight with frustration. “This was the wrong one.”

August’s heart pounded in his chest, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. His eyes darted to the other vehicle, the one that had split off into the distance. It was too far now. They couldn’t reach it in time.

But then he heard something—a faint click, a hiss, followed by the sound of a countdown. His blood ran cold.

"Get back!" August shouted.

Jude’s eyes went wide. “What is it?”

Before August could answer, the truck they had just approached erupted in a deafening explosion. The force of it sent a shockwave through the air, throwing the group to the ground as debris rained down around them. The blast was so intense that the air itself seemed to warp with the heat. A cloud of smoke billowed upward, and August could barely make out the shapes of the other vehicles in the convoy, already speeding away, their engines roaring into the distance.

“Get up! Move!” August shouted, struggling to his feet. His ears rang from the blast, and the smell of burning metal filled his lungs.

They scrambled to their feet, adrenaline coursing through their veins, but the explosion had already given away their position. The mercenaries were already regrouping, weapons raised. The drones, no longer disabled, buzzed above them, scanning for targets.

“What the hell happened?” Jude spat, wiping dirt from his face. His eyes were wide with fury.

“Traps,” Lara said, her voice flat. “The truck was rigged with explosives. We were walking straight into it.”

“No,” August said, his voice low. He took a step forward, chest heaving as he tried to process what had just happened. “I didn’t know. I couldn’t have known.”

“You sure about that?” Jude shot back, his eyes narrowing. His voice was thick with anger, and there was a tremor in his hands as he gripped his rifle. “You’ve been hacking their systems all along. You didn’t think to check the damn trucks?”

“I—” August started, but the words caught in his throat. He was too rattled, too shaken by the explosion, by the realization that they had just walked right into a trap. His heart was still pounding in his chest, and his thoughts were racing. “I didn’t think it would be rigged. I—”

“You didn’t think,” Jude interrupted. “You didn’t think at all! You risked our lives for some damn system that barely works, and now we’re lucky to be alive!”

August opened his mouth to argue, but the words wouldn’t come. Jude’s anger was justified—he could feel it in every word. He had made a mistake. A costly mistake. And now, they were exposed, vulnerable, with no idea where Sabrina was or even if she was still alive.

“Forget it,” Jude muttered, turning away, his voice raw with frustration. “We’re not getting anything out of this now.”

But August couldn’t let it go. They couldn’t give up. Not when they were so close. He had to make this right. He had to.

“Jude, listen—” August began, but the words died in his throat as he heard something in the distance.

A faint rumble. The sound of an engine.

“Shit,” Lara muttered. “They’re coming.”

Through the smoke and debris, a vehicle approached. The engine’s growl grew louder, unmistakable. As it emerged from the haze, August’s heart stopped in his chest.

It was Marcos.

The mercenary leader himself had arrived.

His armored vehicle barreled down the path, followed by a line of heavily armed mercenaries, their weapons raised and ready. Marcos’s cold eyes locked on the group as the vehicle came to a halt.

“Well, well,” Marcos said, his voice dripping with contempt. “Look what we have here. A group of strays. You thought you could escape?”

August’s blood turned to ice. There was nowhere to run now.

They were trapped.

And Marcos was coming for them.