Chapter 46

Chapter 46 (Eleanor’s POV)

Everything hurt.

My head was pounding. My body ached like I'd been thrown from a building. A strange ringing filled my ears, muffling everything else. It took a few seconds before I could remember what had happened.

The crash.

Rick.

The men chasing us.

Slowly, painfully, I opened my eyes.

I was trapped in the wrecked car. Glass surrounded me, tiny shards sparkling under the faint streetlights. The windshield was cracked, spiderwebbed from the force of the impact. My seatbelt was tight against my chest, cutting painfully into my shoulder.

"Rick," I whispered weakly, turning my head to the driver's side.

Rick wasn't moving. His head rested against the steering wheel, blood trickling from a cut near his temple.

My heart squeezed painfully. "Rick," I repeated, louder this time. No response.

I tugged at my seatbelt, panic rising as I realized how stuck I was. My fingers shook as I pressed the release button. It clicked loudly, finally letting me loose. I sucked in a breath as the pressure eased, then reached for Rick.

I touched his shoulder gently, shaking him. "Rick, wake up. Please."

Nothing.

My pulse quickened. I needed to get us out of here. I had to do something, anything, before—

Voices.

Close, harsh voices coming from behind the wrecked car. I froze, fear locking my muscles in place.

Two figures appeared in the rear-view mirror, approaching slowly, cautiously. The same men who’d chased us. They’d found us again.

My breath quickened. Adrenaline surged through me, fighting the pain and dizziness. If they got to us, it was over.

With one final look at Rick, I whispered a shaky apology, "I'm sorry."

I pushed open the damaged passenger door as quietly as possible, wincing as the metal creaked loudly. The voices stopped briefly, alerted by the noise. I scrambled out, stumbling onto the asphalt. The sharp glass bit into my palms, making me cry out softly, but I couldn't stop. I didn't dare stop.

"Over here!" one of the men shouted, urgency clear in his voice. Footsteps pounded toward the car.

I ran, forcing my legs to move despite the burning ache. The woods nearby were dark, tangled with branches and thick bushes. I had no choice. I plunged into the shadows, hoping desperately for cover, for safety, for anything that would get me away from them.

Branches tore at my clothes and skin as I ran blindly through the trees. Every breath was agony, my lungs burning as I pushed myself further into the darkness.

Behind me, I heard the men shouting, their voices harsh, determined. They wouldn't stop. They wouldn't give up. But neither would I.

My foot caught on a root, hidden beneath the leaves. I stumbled, hitting the ground hard, the breath knocked from my lungs. I lay still for a moment, pain radiating through me, tears stinging my eyes.

But I couldn't stay down.

I crawled forward, my fingers clawing at the dirt, desperate to get back on my feet. The voices drew nearer, their words clear enough now.

"She went this way! Hurry!"

Fear surged through me again, giving me a final burst of energy. I pushed myself upright, ignoring the pain that flared through my ankle. Limping forward, I reached for a thick tree trunk, pressing myself against it, hidden in shadows, struggling to breathe quietly.

The men moved closer, flashlights cutting sharply through the darkness. I squeezed my eyes shut, heart hammering painfully in my chest. My entire body trembled, fear overwhelming me. They were too close.

I held my breath, listening as their footsteps slowed, crunching through leaves nearby.

"She can't be far," one of them growled, irritation heavy in his tone.

"Reed wants her alive," the other muttered. "Don't hurt her too badly."

Alive. But for how long?

I swallowed hard, forcing my shaking body still. They stood only a few feet away, scanning the shadows. If they turned slightly to their right, they'd see me. There was nowhere left to run.

I bit my lip hard, tasting blood. Panic built in my chest until I was sure I'd scream.

Then, suddenly, a loud snap echoed from deeper in the woods, distracting them. The men spun, flashlights swinging away from me.

"That way!" one barked, and they both took off running.

I exhaled slowly, relief washing over me for the briefest moment before reality set back in. I had to move. Now.

My ankle throbbed painfully as I limped deeper into the darkness, no direction, no clear path. Just away. Away from danger, away from the men chasing me.

But I didn't get far.

My strength faded quickly. Dizziness washed over me, making the trees around me spin. I stumbled again, this time barely catching myself on a low branch.

As I stood there, gasping for breath, a rustle came from directly in front of me. I froze, terror gripping me again.

Another shadow stepped from the darkness, blocking my path. I stared up in fear, bracing myself, ready to scream, ready to fight.

But the scream never left my lips.

Because the face stepping into the pale moonlight was familiar. So familiar that my heart stopped completely.

Alex.

He stood there silently, his face unreadable, eyes sharp and intense. I stared at him, paralyzed by shock, confusion, relief, and fear, all mixed together.

"Alex?" I whispered, hardly able to believe he was real.

He took a step closer, his voice low and urgent. "Don't scream."

I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out. My vision blurred as a million questions raced through my mind. Why was he here? How had he found me? Did he even remember me?

Alex reached out quickly, grabbing my arm firmly. His touch sent electricity through my body, jolting me back to reality. His grip was strong, his eyes serious.

"Follow me," he whispered sharply, pulling me along deeper into the shadows.

My ankle protested sharply, but I ignored the pain, stumbling after him as quickly as I could.

"Alex," I tried again, desperate for some kind of answer, some reassurance. "What's going on? Why—"

"Not now," he said sharply, glancing back at me with warning in his eyes. "Keep quiet."

Confusion and hurt flashed through me. Did he truly not remember me at all? Was I just another stranger he felt obligated to help?

We moved deeper into the forest, the trees growing thicker around us. My head spun, exhaustion threatening to pull me under, but I kept moving, clinging desperately to Alex’s strong grip.

He stopped suddenly, pulling me into the shadow of a massive oak tree. He stood close, his presence comforting yet terrifyingly distant. I stared up at him, my heart aching at his nearness.

Voices echoed faintly in the distance. The men were still searching.

Alex tensed beside me, eyes narrowed as he listened carefully. I could barely breathe, my thoughts racing, my chest tight with a thousand unspoken words.

"They'll find us," I whispered, voice shaking. "We can't stay here."

His gaze flickered to me briefly, intense and unreadable. "We're not staying. We need to move carefully."

"Alex," I whispered desperately, unable to hold back anymore. "Do you remember me?"

He hesitated, a painful flash crossing his eyes. But he didn't answer. He just grabbed my hand again, guiding me carefully through the darkness, silent and focused.

My heart ached bitterly. His silence was answer enough. He didn't know me, not really. I was nothing but a stranger to him.

We walked for what felt like forever, exhaustion heavy in every step I took. Eventually, Alex paused near a small clearing, hidden deep within the forest.

He turned to face me, eyes softer but guarded. "Rest here. Just for a moment."

I sank gratefully to the ground, breath coming in short, painful gasps. Alex crouched beside me, his gaze alert, scanning our surroundings.

"You need to tell me what's happening," I whispered, pleading. "Please, Alex."

He looked at me silently, conflicted emotions clear on his face. "There's more going on than you realize," he finally admitted, voice low. "I wish I could explain everything now, but there's no time."

My throat tightened painfully. "Do you even remember me at all?"

His expression shifted again, confusion and frustration visible in the pale moonlight. "I'm not sure. It's complicated."

The sound of breaking branches snapped our attention back to reality. Alex tensed, rising quickly to his feet.

"They're close," he said quietly, urgency clear in his voice. "We need to—"

He stopped suddenly, eyes widening as another voice called out from the darkness, clear and confident.

"Alex Carter. Thought I'd find you here."

I turned sharply toward the voice, dread pooling in my stomach.

Nathan Reed stepped calmly into the clearing, a cold smile on his lips.

"You're both coming with me," he said simply, raising his hand slightly. Men stepped from the shadows around us, trapping us completely.

Alex moved instinctively closer to me, tense and protective. But we were outnumbered.

Nathan Reed smiled again, colder this time. "You didn't really think you'd escape that easily, did you?"

He nodded to his men, his voice icy.

"Take them."