Chapter 10: The Escape
Yelena ran through the forest, her breath coming in ragged gasps as the cold air burned her lungs. The sound of gunfire echoed behind her, each shot sending a jolt of fear through her body. She clutched the bag with the ledger tightly to her chest, her mind racing with worry for Ethan.
Please be okay. Please be okay.
The forest was dense, the trees towering overhead and blocking out most of the sunlight. The snow crunched under her boots, and her legs ached from the effort of running uphill. But she didn’t stop. She couldn’t.
After what felt like an eternity, the sounds of the cabin faded into the distance, replaced by the eerie silence of the woods. Yelena slowed to a stop, leaning against a tree to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding, and her hands were trembling, but she forced herself to focus.
She needed a plan.
The ledger was a target, and now that Victor’s enemies knew she had it, they would stop at nothing to get it back. She couldn’t go back to Martha’s house—it was too dangerous. And she couldn’t trust Victor, not after what had just happened.
Her mind raced as she tried to think of a safe place to go. Then it hit her.
The city.
Eighfast was only a few hours away, and it was the last place anyone would expect her to go. If she could make it there, she could disappear into the crowds and figure out her next move.
But first, she needed to get out of the forest.
Yelena pulled out her phone, relieved to see that she still had a signal. She opened a map and quickly located the nearest road. It was about a mile away, but it was her best chance of finding help.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and started walking.
The hike to the road was grueling, but Yelena pushed through the exhaustion, her determination keeping her moving. When she finally reached the edge of the forest, she saw a narrow, snow-covered road winding through the mountains.
She stood at the side of the road, her breath visible in the cold air, and scanned the horizon for any sign of life. Just as she was starting to lose hope, she heard the faint rumble of an engine.
A truck appeared in the distance, its headlights cutting through the gray morning light. Yelena stepped into the road, waving her arms frantically.
The truck slowed to a stop, and the driver—a middle-aged man with a kind face—rolled down the window.
“You alright, miss?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Yelena nodded, forcing a smile. “I got lost hiking. Can you give me a ride to the nearest town?”
The man hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Hop in. I’m heading to Eighfast.”
Relief washed over Yelena as she climbed into the passenger seat. The warmth of the truck’s heater was a welcome contrast to the biting cold outside.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice sincere.
The man smiled. “No problem. Name’s Carl, by the way.”
“Yelena,” she replied, though she immediately regretted giving her real name. But Carl didn’t seem to notice.
As they drove, Yelena kept a wary eye on the road behind them, half-expecting to see a car full of armed men chasing after her. But the road remained empty, and the tension in her chest slowly began to ease.
By the time they reached Eighfast, the sun was high in the sky, casting a pale light over the city. Yelena thanked Carl and stepped out of the truck, her legs stiff from the long ride.
She stood on the sidewalk, the bustling city around her a stark contrast to the quiet of the mountains. For a moment, she felt overwhelmed. But then she remembered the ledger in her bag and the danger she was in.
She couldn’t afford to hesitate.
Yelena pulled out her phone and searched for a nearby hotel. She needed a place to lay low and figure out her next move.
After booking a room at a modest hotel, she made her way there, keeping her head down and avoiding eye contact with anyone. When she finally reached her room, she locked the door behind her and let out a long, shaky breath.
She was safe. For now.
Yelena sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled out the ledger, flipping through its pages. The names and numbers were a blur, but she knew they held the key to everything—her father’s secrets, her mother’s disappearance, and the danger that was now chasing her.
But she couldn’t do this alone. She needed help.
Her thoughts turned to Ethan. Had he made it out of the cabin? Was he safe? She didn’t have his number, and even if she did, calling him might put him in more danger.
Then she remembered Victor’s words. “If you find the ledger, bring it to me.”
Yelena’s stomach churned at the thought. Victor was dangerous, but he was also the only one who might be able to protect her—and the ledger.
She took a deep breath, her mind made up. She would contact Victor, but on her terms. She wouldn’t let him control her.
First, though, she needed to rest. The adrenaline that had kept her going was fading, and exhaustion was setting in.
Yelena set the ledger on the nightstand and lay down on the bed, her body sinking into the mattress. As she closed her eyes, her mind drifted to Ethan, hoping against hope that he was safe.
But even as she drifted off to sleep, she knew one thing for certain—her life would never be the same.