The deafening roar all around made Elodie's heart pound in her chest. She stared at the rising dust clouds in the distance—they were coming fast, the danger nearly upon them.

She knew exactly why: the entire team was making an emergency evacuation, scrambling to escape with all their equipment.

Her expression grew tense. "All right, pack up the gear-make sure nothing gets left behind or broken."

She barely finished before stooping to retrieve her phone from the ground. The screen was shattered, jagged from where it had struck the rocks, but it still flickered to life-barely usable.

With the crowd surging around her, Elodie moved quickly toward the exit, punching in Jarrod's number as she walked. The situation here was spiraling into chaos; she had to stop Jarrod from coming anywhere near.

But-

"We're sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable..."

That sterile, automated voice squeezed her heart with icy fingers.

A vague, suffocating sense of dread swept over her.

She reached the car and paused, trying Jarrod's number again.

Same result-no signal, no answer.

Elodie drew in a shaky breath, climbed into the back seat, and immediately called Esmeralda instead. Esmeralda wasn't with her; Elodie had no idea if she was safe.

broke with panic. “Elodie?! Where are you? Are you still

sped onto the main road. Gunfire rattled in the distance. Elodie had always known that her home country was strong, that ordinary citizens rarely experienced this kind

her voice to be heard over the noise. "I'm

Bang!

car. The driver swerved and Elodie's phone

the signal seemed to

across her

find the

least she knew Esmeralda

.n

safe;

had to find some

reach Jarrod.

she finally found her phone, the screen was dead-black, unresponsive, finished after

pricked

big, broad-shouldered man escorting her—a

I please

hesitate. His phone was old and basic, but he handed it over

flawless memory-she tapped in Jarrod's

was too weak, the lines jammed or disrupted. She couldn't get

her nerves steady, and gazed

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