But the relentless shouts of their hunters still echoed through the trees. Andrew didn't falter for a second, his breathing terrifyingly steady.

Emily, however, couldn't keep it up. She slammed to a halt, clutching her violently cramping abdomen, gasping for air. "Wait... hold on... my stomach is killing me... just

wait..."

Andrew spun around, gripping her shoulders. A deep furrow formed between his brows, his voice laced with intense concern. "Is it bad?"

Emily pulled away, doubling over as she leaned against a thick trunk, managing only a tight nod.

The adrenaline had masked the pain earlier, but the all-out sprint had triggered a series of agonizing spasms that ripped through her core.

The thud of approaching boots cracked through the night air. Emily gritted her teeth and pushed herself upright. "We have to keep moving."

Her night vision had always been terrible, and she was practically blind out here without Andrew to guide her.

Shrouded in darkness, she couldn't make out his face, but she could feel his intense gaze locked onto her.

She shoved his chest weakly, fighting through the wave of agony. "Go on without me. I can't see a thing out here."

Andrew abruptly turned his back to her and crouched down. "Get on."

Emily blinked, staring blankly at the broad silhouette kneeling in the dirt.

She quickly snapped back to reality, a flare of stubborn independence igniting inside her. She blindly nudged his shoulder. "No way. Get up. I can push through."

Andrew completely ignored her protests. He simply spun around, seized her wrists, scooped her legs off the ground, and hauled her onto his back. Before she could even process it, he was already sprinting.

The jarring motion of his run sent her repeatedly colliding against his solid back, fueling an endless surge of panic that she was going to be thrown off.

Clamping her jaw shut, Emily gripped his shoulders tightly, forcing her upper body upright to stabilize herself.

"Hold on tight," Andrew ordered.

"I'm trying," she hissed back.

She had to admit, he was moving insanely fast with her weight on him. His breathing was frighteningly even, his iron grip secured her thighs, and he navigated the treacherous terrain with predatory agility.

But they were still being hunted by a pack of highly trained mercenaries. It was only a matter of time before the men broke out the heavy-duty flashlights sweeping the woods to pinpoint their location and

effortlessly closing the gap.

And with her weighing him down, there was simply no way Andrew could outrun

them indefinitely. The hunters were closing in.

Emily's breathing hitched as the crashing sounds of pursuit amplified behind them. "We need to find cover. Now."

They were exposed on flat ground. The trunks were too thin and the trees too sparse to offer any real

concealment. With the beamset

tactical flashlights already slicing, through the dark, the mercenaries would lock onto them in seconds.

"I'm on it," Andrew replied grimly.

Without missing a beat, he veered sharply, plunging into a dense thicket as the harsh white beams tracked relentlessly behind them.

The heavy brush finally offered some cover, masking a steep drop-off just ahead.

Andrew didn't hesitate, diving straight down the sharp decline.

He hitched her higher against his spine.

"Brace yourself."

Emily dug her nails into his jacket. "Okay. Watch your step, don't wipe out."

The incline was treacherous and nearly vertical in places.

"I won't," Andrew answered with absolute certainty.

And he delivered.

His footwork was

flawless, descending a chaotic

series of drops while bearing her weight. They finally broke out of the

spotlight's reach, leaving the frantic shouts of their pursuers echoing distantly above them.