“Elizabeth!” Sarah gasped, rushing forward. The sight of her long-lost friend, alive yet restrained, ignited a fierce determination within her.
Elizabeth looked up, her eyes widening in recognition. “Sarah? You found me!” Relief washed over her features, but it was quickly replaced by concern. “You shouldn’t be here. It’s too dangerous!”
Ignoring her warning, Sarah knelt beside Elizabeth, quickly assessing the ropes binding her wrists. “We’re getting you out of here. I need to cut these—”
“Wait,” Elizabeth said urgently, glancing at the door behind them. “We don’t have much time. Bennett’s men will be here any minute.”
Kade moved closer, scanning the hallway. “We need to be fast. Can you stand?”
“I think so,” Elizabeth replied, her voice shaky but determined. “Just… hurry.”
Sarah pulled out her small knife, carefully cutting through the ropes binding Elizabeth’s wrists. “Stay quiet,” she whispered, the adrenaline rushing through her veins.
With a final tug, the ropes fell away, and Elizabeth rubbed her wrists, wincing at the friction. “Thank you,” she breathed, her gaze shifting to Kade. “You brought him?”
“Yeah, he’s here to help,” Sarah assured her, glancing back toward the door. “But we need to move now.”
They helped Elizabeth to her feet, and she leaned against the wall for support, regaining her balance. “What’s the plan?” she asked, determination creeping back into her voice.
“There’s a door at the end of the hallway. We’ll head out that way and try to blend into the chaos outside,” Kade explained. “Mark should still be causing a distraction. We just have to make it there without being seen.”
“Got it,” Elizabeth nodded, her eyes filled with a fierce resolve. “Let’s do this.”
As they moved cautiously back toward the door, the distant sounds of voices began to echo through the building. Bennett’s men were closing in, their footsteps reverberating against the concrete floors.
“Go!” Sarah urged, pushing the door open slowly. They slipped into the corridor, the noise of the docks amplifying as they stepped out into the chaos.
The sight was overwhelming—containers stacked high, men shouting, and the remnants of Mark’s fireworks illuminating the night sky. But amid the confusion, Sarah felt a surge of hope. They could do this.
“Stick close,” Kade instructed, leading the way through the maze of containers. They navigated the shadows, avoiding the gaze of the guards who were still distracted by the commotion.
Suddenly, Sarah heard shouting from behind them. “Over there!” a voice yelled, and her heart dropped. They’d been spotted.
“Run!” Sarah shouted, adrenaline surging as they sprinted toward the docks, the sound of their pursuers growing louder.
They ducked behind a stack of crates, trying to catch their breath. “We need to find a way out,” Elizabeth gasped, her eyes wide with fear.
Kade peered around the edge of the crate, his jaw clenched. “There’s a boat at the end of the dock. If we can make it there, we might be able to escape.”
“Lead the way,” Sarah urged, her determination solidifying. They couldn’t afford to waste any more time.
With renewed urgency, they dashed toward the edge of the docks. The night air was thick with tension as they weaved through the crates, avoiding the scattered guards who were frantically searching for them.
As they reached the end of the dock, Sarah’s heart raced. There, moored at the edge, was a small boat, its engine idling quietly.
“Get in!” Kade urged, jumping aboard and helping Elizabeth climb in after him.
Sarah followed, glancing back at the chaos behind them. The sounds of shouting grew closer, but they were too close now to turn back. She quickly took the wheel, her hands gripping it tightly as she prepared to start the engine.
“Can you drive this?” Elizabeth asked, her voice filled with concern.
“I’ll figure it out,” Sarah replied, her gaze fixed on the water ahead. She had to focus.
With a flick of the ignition, the engine roared to life. The sound cut through the night air, and she quickly turned the boat away from the dock. “Hold on!” she shouted, accelerating as fast as she could.
The boat surged forward, slicing through the waves as they sped away from the chaos of the docks. Behind them, the distant sounds of shouting and chaos faded into the background.
“We did it!” Kade exclaimed, relief washing over him as they put distance between themselves and Bennett’s men.
“Not yet,” Sarah replied, keeping her eyes on the water ahead. “We still need to make sure we’re safe.”
Elizabeth turned to her, gratitude shining in her eyes. “Thank you for coming for me. I didn’t think anyone would care enough to look.”
“Of course we care,” Sarah replied, glancing back at her. “You’re family. We’ll always look out for each other.”
As they navigated the waters, the moonlight reflecting off the surface provided a sense of calm. But Sarah knew they couldn’t let their guard down just yet. Bennett wouldn’t stop until he had what he wanted.
“We need to regroup,” Kade said, scanning the shoreline. “There’s a marina up ahead. We can hide out there and figure out our next move.”
“Good idea,” Sarah agreed, steering the boat toward the marina. The adrenaline was beginning to wear off, leaving exhaustion in its wake, but they couldn’t stop now. They needed to stay alert.
As they pulled into the marina, Sarah could see the faint outlines of boats bobbing gently in the water, their silhouettes framed by the moonlight. She maneuvered the boat into an empty slip, cutting the engine and glancing around.
“Let’s get off the boat and find somewhere to hide,” Kade suggested.
They quickly disembarked, leaving the boat behind as they slipped into the shadows of the marina. The night was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.
“Where to now?” Elizabeth asked, looking around.
“There’s a small shack nearby. It should provide some cover until we figure out our next steps,” Kade replied, leading the way.
As they approached the shack, Sarah’s mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead. They had rescued Elizabeth, but the danger was far from over. Bennett wouldn’t stop until he had her back, and now that they were involved, they were all targets.
Inside the shack, the atmosphere was tense but relieved. They leaned against the walls, catching their breath as they assessed their situation.
“Now what?” Elizabeth asked, looking between Sarah and Kade.
Sarah glanced out of a small window, the moonlight casting a silver glow on the water. “We regroup, figure out what Bennett’s planning, and then we stop him. We can’t let him win.”
Kade nodded in agreement. “But we need a solid plan. This isn’t just about saving Elizabeth anymore; it’s about taking down Bennett once and for all.”
The weight of their mission hung heavy in the air, but Sarah felt a renewed sense of purpose. They had come this far together, and she knew they could face whatever lay ahead. Together, they would fight back against the darkness that threatened to consume them.