The Road Ends Here

Day 34 – Nowhere to Run

Daniel Holt knew a kill zone when he saw one.

And this?

This was a kill zone.

The checkpoint was crude but effective—two rusted pickup trucks wedged across the highway, blocking any way forward.

A watchtower had been assembled on the ridge to their right, overlooking the entire road.

And standing near the blockade?

Six men. Armed. Organized.

Militia.

Calloway’s people.

Daniel and Erin had been following this road for four days.

Now, it had just turned into a dead end.

Daniel and Erin stopped just inside the tree line, staying hidden in the brush.

They hadn’t been seen yet.

At least, that’s what Daniel thought—

Until one of the militia men turned his head slightly.

Then, without hesitation—

He raised his hand.

A signal.

A second later, another figure emerged from the woods behind them.

Gun raised.

Daniel didn’t have time to think.

"RUN."

Gunfire ripped through the trees.

Daniel and Erin sprinted forward, zigzagging through the brush as bullets chewed into the dirt around them.

The militia had been waiting for them.

Which meant they weren’t trying to kill them outright.

They were trying to capture them.

Daniel vaulted over a fallen log, breath ragged.

Ahead, the terrain dropped sharply—a steep ravine.

Erin saw it, too.

"Bad idea," she panted.

Daniel didn’t hesitate.

"Only idea."

And then—

They jumped.

The ground disappeared beneath them.

They hit the slope hard, tumbling through dirt and brush, smashing through tree branches as gravity ripped them downward.

Daniel landed hard at the bottom, pain flaring through his ribs.

Erin crashed down a second later, groaning.

Above them—

The militia was already moving down.

"Go," Daniel hissed, hauling Erin up.

And then they were running again.

They ran for miles, lungs burning, bodies aching.

Then—a structure.

Half-collapsed, rotting from age.

A hunting cabin.

Daniel grabbed Erin’s arm.

"In there."

She didn’t argue.

They burst inside, kicking aside debris, shoving the door closed.

Daniel peered through the cracks in the wood.

The militia was still hunting them.

But now?

They had cover.

For now.