ACT 5: The Last Mile

Lila’s breath came in ragged gasps as the group huddled low in the dense jungle grove, their pursuers’ footsteps growing faint. The thick scent of damp earth and rotting leaves clung to the air and the oppressive silence of the jungle pressed in from all sides.

“Do you think they’ll stop?” Kate whispered, eyes wide, scanning the shadows.

Lila tightened her grip on the scanner in her hand. “Not until they find us. But we’ve bought some time. We need to reach the extraction point.”

“Why, what’s there?” Kate said, her brow furrowed.

“It’s where we dropped off when we came here. Not far from where we found you,” Jax answered, scanning the surrounding jungle.

“And you know where it is?” Kate asked, still doubtful.

Lila glanced down at the scanner, then pointed west. “That way.”

They set off again, the crunch of their footsteps mingling with the occasional rustle of unseen creatures. Lila led, her pace steady but urgent. Every glance at the scanner confirmed her fear— the soldiers couldn’t be far behind. Every so often, the spotlight from a helicopter would sweep over the trees, but they stayed low, hidden in the shadows. Dawn was creeping up, casting a hue of the sunlight over the jungle.

“We need to move faster,” Lila remarked.

Breathless from the long hours of running, Jax shot her a sharp look. “ we ’re going as fast as we can.” He wiped his forehead with a sleeve, but the sweat kept coming.

Jax wiped his forehead, his face drawn with exhaustion. “We’re going as fast as we can,” he shot back, panting.

Kate glanced nervously over her shoulder. “How much longer?” she asked.

Lila’s eyes flicked over the land ahead as they reached a slight rise. Beyond the thick trees and vines, she spotted a faint outline of a metal structure. It was old and weather-beaten, its edges blurred by rust and overgrowth, but it was unmistakable—the helicopter.

Before she could voice her relief, the sound of boots crashing through the underbrush reached them, followed by the sharp crack of gunfire. A helicopter whirred overhead, its blades cutting through the air.

“There!” Lila shouted, pointing to the helicopter. A figure was dancing near it, headphones in, oblivious to the danger closing in.

“Carter! Carter!” Lila shouted, pushing her legs to move faster.

Jax cursed under his breath. “He’s got his headphones in. Carter! Now!”

They sprinted toward the helicopter, the soldiers’ footsteps growing louder by the second. The moment they reached the chopper, Carter finally turned around,  confusion morphing into shock as he saw the group charging toward him.

“Oh shit, what the damn hell?” he exclaimed.

“Go, go, go!” Lila urged, pulling the door open as Kate and Jax scrambled inside.

The helicopter’s blades spun to life as Carter slammed the door shut behind him, the engines roaring to life. “We’re clear,” Carter said, his voice light with laughter.

For a moment, the enemy helicopter followed them, but eventually, it veered off. They were free.

As the helicopter sped further from the jungle, the landscape below slowly changed from dense forest to rolling hills. The air thinned as they gained altitude giving way to cooler breezes. Soon, they were back in their home country, the familiar terrain offering a sense of quiet relief.

“We’ll land in ten,” Carter remarked, glancing over his shoulder. "Better hold on. It's going to be a rough landing."

The helicopter descended rapidly, its engines whirring as the ground rushed up to meet them. It touched down with a soft jolt, the hum of the rotor blades winding down. Lila’s eyes snapped open as the noise faded, and Carter unstrapped himself, glancing out of the window.

“We’re here,” he said with a huge grin. The Project Corewell lab loomed ahead. It was an ancient building, refurbished by the team that made it their headquarters. It’s circular stone arches, jagged glass panels, and metallic structures embedded into the stone.

As soon as the door opened, children—no older than seven or eight—rushed toward them, big wide smiles and wide eyes.

Jax grinned and waved. “Miss me?” he teased, kneeling as one of the children threw their arms around him. “I know, I know. You missed me. But hey, I’ve got some new faces for you all to meet. This is Sam,” he pointed to the silent figure standing behind him, “and that’s Kate.”

Lila gave a soft chuckle. “It’s good to be back,” she said, glancing at the children. “Where’s Rick and the others?

Before anyone could respond, a tall figure emerged from the shadowed doorway. Cloaked in a flowing white fabric, the figure raised their hand to signal them to stop.

“You took your time didn’t you,” the figure’s voice was warm and inviting. “ The Kids and I have been worried sick.” Lila’s breath caught as she recognized the figure—Thalia, her closest friend. She stepped forward instinctively, arms outstretched as they embraced.

Thalia pulled back and swept her gaze over the group. “So, you brought new friends, I see,” she said with a smile. “Did you have fun?”

Lila met her eyes as she responded. “Not exactly the vacation I had in mind. But we made it.”

Thalia’s smile faded slightly as she gestured for them to come inside. “We have a problem.”