Page 47 of Following Their Heart

My Cora says she must reach Scrap. Therefore, it is my new mission to deliver her to the summit safely. No matter what.

On a steep upward slope, she falls behind me, panting heavily. It is difficult for her to maintain this breakneck pace. She is still building her strength after being held captive. Her muscles cannot handle this sprint. Fortunately, I am strong enough for the both of us. I pause in my running long enough to scoop her to my chest, and then I’m moving again. Faster now that I don’t have to slow my steps to hers.

“Thank you,” she breathes, and she clings to my neck. She holds tight so as not to hinder my sprint.

Except for my harsh breathing and the pounding of my boots, it is eerily quiet inside the mountain. There is no sign of the battle I assume is raging at the camp. Yet urgency propels me forward. My soul believes Cora. And so, I run for her. I disobey orders for her. I will give her the whole of my strength and the last of my breath if it helps her in any way.

In truth, I do not know if I would agree to this if it was the camp she wanted to go to. In the heat of the battle, it would be far too dangerous. But the summit should be safer. It’s where Scrap has his hub of technology to trigger the anti-aircraft missiles we placed on the side of the mountain.

Cora believes perhaps there is one in Raptor’s army who can affect Scrap’s tech. If she is right, and the missiles will not fire, then the others are sitting ducks. No amount of machine gun fire will bring down choppers that can maneuver out of range and return fire tenfold. Those missiles are our best hope for defeating the enemy. Only by defeating them soundly will we ensure they do not try us again. If we show strength now, they will respect our claim on this land—and our claim on Cora.

Only the missiles will accomplish that.

Finally, I emerge from the mine tunnel into the dark of night. I set Cora on her feet and tear the camouflaging brush away from the ATV. There is a chopper above the camp to the south and another to the east. The east chopper is closer to us. It shines a spotlight over the sloped forest, as if searching for something. That something is Cora. Because I have disobeyed orders, I have exposed her to possible discovery.

But I will protect her. We will remain hidden. They will never discover her. It is a short ride to the summit. We can make it before the chopper comes this way.

I turn the key in the ATV ignition as Cora climbs on behind me. There is no catch. The engine won’t start. Curses in my native Ukrainian fall from my lips as I try again. And again.

It is no use. “It won’t start.”

“It’s Raptor,” Cora says. She gets off and starts running.

I catch up quickly and lift her into my arms again. We will have to reach the summit on foot, and my legs are stronger than hers. We must make it before the chopper sweeps this way, especially since the tree line will fall away the higher I run.

I hold Cora tight and push my legs as fast as they will go. It is dark, but the moon highlights the trail for me. It is well traveled and free of obstacles, especially now that the tree growth is behind us. But it is steep, and I am only a man. I cannot move as fast as the ATV.

The chopper turns and begins sweeping in our direction, but lower down the mountain. Thank God. Still, they could easily turn their spotlight up this way. I must not slow.

I’m pushing myself so hard I barely notice there is no gunfire below us. The camp is quiet except for the sound of the chopper down there. I do not pause to look, but it sounds as if it is landing. That is not good.

Earlier, Cora said something was wrong. I trusted her then, but now I truly believe. There are no sounds of artillery. My brothers are not fighting back. That is all kinds of wrong.

My legs burn, and my lungs sting, but I run full-tilt up the dark trail. Cora clings to me and looks over my shoulder. “The chopper is coming.”

“I hear it.”

The shelter at the summit is in sight, and the lights are all off. I do not know if Scrap is being intentionally stealthy or if the building is dark because nothing works.

“Hurry,” she urges.

I do. With a last burst of effort, I launch us up the rocky steps of the trail, and we dive behind the building before the light from the chopper can sweep over us.

The noise from the chopper is deafening as it skims the mountain top, but soon enough, it moves away, and I can hear the thundering of my heart again.

“They’re gone,” Cora says.

Yes, but they might come back. “Get inside. Do what you must do.” I draw my weapon and ready myself to defend the summit. A handgun doesn’t stand much chance against a military helicopter, but it’s something. I will not let anyone near Cora. If they come back and land near the summit, I will kill every man on board.

“Thank you, Ivan.” Cora grips my shoulder, and then she’s pushing into the dark building, calling for Scrap.

Chapter 19

Scrap

I’m dead in the water up here. One chopper is circling the camp, and the other is directly overhead, making an unholy racket and drowning out my ability to think.

Think, damnit! Think!

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