Page 76 of Ravaged From Fate

The car holding Elsa screeches out of town. They’re going fast. I have to stick to their speed if I’m to keep up, but I also don’t want them suspecting I’m on their tail. I deliberately fall back, keeping them in eyesight but far away enough to not raise alarm bells.

I clench my jaw.

Those fuckers…

This has all been a matter of minutes. I’ve acted like a cold-blooded robot after the initial surprise of seeing Elsa bundled in the back of the car. I’m emotionless now, purely focusing on the task ahead.

Find out where the assholes are taking her. Deal with them. Get Elsa to safety.

I know I’m exposing myself to deeper and deeper trouble here the further we drive out of East Springs. Five against one was okay in the bar, but out here it’s a death trap. Especially if the gang has guns. I’m relying on them having weapons at their disposal, while I have nothing but my fists and my willingness to die for my woman.

I will need backup at the very least.

As I keep my eyes on the road and on their car, I call Cyrus.

“Hey, brother. What’s up?”

“Listen,” I reply, deadly serious. “I can’t speak for very long, but this is important. I’ll be as blunt as I can. Some local gang members have Elsa. I don’t know why or how, but now they’re driving her out of town. I’m on their tail right now as we speak.”

Cyrus is silent for the briefest of moments. I hear him take in a deep breath as he quickly processes what I’ve relayed to him.

“Is she okay?”

“She was moving of her own accord when I glimpsed her.”

“You saw her?”

“Yes, and they drove past me.”

“Did they see you?”

“No,” I reply.

“Good,” he says, on the same page as me. “These bastards are going to pay.”

“Yep, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”

“Where are you?”

“I’ll send you a location track of my phone,” I say.

“I’m right behind you, brother,” Cyrus replies. “I’ve got your back.”

“Good man.”

I hang up and send him my details as I speed through the winding roads leading out of East Springs. All the way onto a dirt track that leads deep into the woods.

This is not a good sign. I’m alone against how many of them? I’m heading into enemy territory here. Nothing is on my side.

But I want Elsa. I need her.

I’ll die protecting her. It’s a real possibility of that happening right now, but I push that thought to the back of my mind. I’d prefer that Elsa is safe over my own life. I’ve done a lot of fucked-up things in my time on Earth, but saving her will be my saving grace.

I trundle far behind the gang’s car along this ominous-looking dirt track until it starts to slow down. I’ve kept my distance far enough behind them that I think they still haven’t spotted me, but I decide it’s too risky going any further when they’re at such a snail’s pace, so I park by the side of the track and get out silently. I quietly walk, hidden in the woods parallel to the dirt track and I edge around the corner.

Then I see it. Some old, dilapidated barn at the end of the track. The gang’s car has come to a halt outside it. I watch from behind a tree as the doors open and out they all come. I count four men. Only four. That’s a good number. No one greets them from inside the barn. Hopefully, there’s no one else, though I can’t be certain.

What you’re doing is crazy, Caspian.