Page 152 of Ignite

She veers left and trips on some low branches.

That’s all I need.

I lunge at her, putting all my force behind it.

My weight crashes down on her and I slam her to the forest floor.

One hand on her face, the other fighting to keep her down as she thrashes, panicked.

She’s strong.

But I’m desperate.

I grab the key. Yank it free.

And I’m gone.

Running. Blind and reckless and breathless.

My lungs burn, throat raw, but I don’t stop. Not until I’m sure no one’s chasing me.

Only when silence returns do I slow. I kill the light, clip the chain to my bra strap, and shove the key deep into my bra.

Lesson learned.

Hide the key. Don’t advertise your target.

The woods stretch deeper and darker, but I keep moving. The air shifts around me?—

Still. Watching.

I don’t know if I’m alone.

I don’t know if I ever really was.

At a break in the trees, I drop my rucksack and collapse onto it. I flick the flashlight back on and let the beam land on the metal.

Number six.

That’s the cabin I need.

But I haven’t seen a single one yet.

It has to be out here. Somewhere.

My eyelids grow heavy. I yawn. Tempted.

But no.

No sleep. Not here. Not yet.

As I steady my breathing, I glance up.

A red light blinks above me.

A drone, maybe?

It hovers over me and I glare up at it.

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