Chapter 8 - Trial by Fire
The humidity in the swamp was suffocating. By midnight, they had reached the limestone caves, a dark, damp sanctuary hidden beneath a canopy of ancient ferns.
Sarah sat on the cave floor, holding Leo close. Rex lay near the entrance, his body a silent sentinel, his eyes watching the dark woods.
"Here," Marcus said, handing Sarah a bottle of water. "They've lost our scent for now. But they won't stop."
"I have the recording," Sarah said, holding up her phone. "It's saved to the cloud. The moment I get a signal, I can upload it to the FBI and local news."
"The canopy is too thick here," Marcus said, looking up at the stone ceiling. "We need to reach the Fire Tower on the ridge. That's the only place with a cellular signal."
Suddenly, Rex stood up, his ears pinned back, a low, menacing growl vibrating in his throat.
"They're here?" Sarah whispered, terror gripping her.
It wasn't the sound of men. It was a crackling, popping sound, accompanied by a thick, acrid smell of smoke.
Marcus ran to the cave entrance, his face turning pale in the orange glow that was beginning to light up the night sky.
"The bastard," Marcus gasped. "Silas has set the underbrush on fire. He’s trying to flush us out."
The wind was pushing the fire directly toward the ravine. Within minutes, the entrance to the cave was surrounded by a wall of orange flames. The heat was intense, the smoke filling the cavern, making them cough.
"We're trapped," Sarah cried, shielding Leo’s face with her wet sleeve.
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Rex let out a sharp bark. He ran to the very back of the cave, where a narrow, dark crevice led deeper into the limestone. He looked back at them, whining, his tail wagging urgently.
"He knows another way out," Marcus said. "He remembers the training trails. Follow him!"
