17. Lux

17

LUX

L ux heard the faint sound of a helicopter approaching. The noise grew louder, and she looked over at Zoey, who was already on her feet, staring up at the sky.

"It's getting closer," Lux said, her voice steady.

"We need to signal them," Zoey said. The helicopter was getting closer, the sound now a deep, pulsing thrum that seemed to echo off the trees around them. Zoey's heart pounded, her senses on high alert.

Zoey turned her head sharply, her eyes widening in horror as she saw the flames surging toward them faster than she had ever seen before. The fire had found a new fuel source, and it was barreling toward them with a force that made her stomach drop.

"Lux, we have to go," Zoey shouted, her voice carrying over the roaring flames.

Lux spun around. She came back toward Zoey, her eyes locked on the approaching danger.

Zoey moved frantically. They couldn't stay here any longer. The fire was too close and approaching too quickly. She glanced back toward the sky, but the flames and smoke made it impossible to see anything clearly.

"Run!" Zoey yelled.

"But, Jay," Lux said. "She's still up there."

"She clearly can't land. Hopefully, if we get to higher ground, she'll be able to rescue us."

"We should?—"

A branch snapped and crashed to the ground. Lux moved just in time, pulling Zoey along with her. She looked up, trying to locate the chopper, but the smoke was too thick above them.

They took off, their feet pounding against the dry, cracked earth as they ran through the forest. Her eyes stung and her lungs burned, but she didn't slow down.

Zoey was just ahead, her movements quick and agile. Lux could see the strain on her face and the way her jaw was set with determination. They both knew their lives were at stake.

As they ran, Zoey's foot caught on something, and she stumbled, falling hard to the ground. Lux was there right away, pulling her back to her feet.

"Come on, Zoey."

The flames were closer now, licking at the trees around them, the heat so intense that it felt like it was burning her skin. She didn't dare look back, afraid of what she might see.

They reached a small clearing, and for a moment, Zoey thought they might have found a safe spot. But the fire was relentless, consuming everything in its path. She could hear the crackling of burning wood, the roaring of the flames, and above it all, the distant thrum of the helicopter still searching for them.

"We have to keep going," Lux said, her voice tight with fear. "We can't stop here."

Zoey nodded again, her throat too dry to speak. She followed Lux, her legs heavy with exhaustion. They had been running for what felt like forever, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep it up.

But they had no choice.

As they pushed through the underbrush, Lux felt the rocks and roots threatening to trip her at every step. She stumbled, but Zoey was there, steadying her, keeping her moving.

Suddenly, the ground dropped away in front of them, revealing a slope that led down into a narrow ravine. Zoey skidded to a stop, her heart pounding in her ears.

"This way," Lux said, her voice strained as she pointed down the slope. "We can use the ravine to get away from the fire."

Zoey hesitated for a moment, the drop making her stomach churn. But the flames were too close. She could feel the heat at her back, the crackling of the fire growing louder by the second.

With a deep breath, she nodded and followed Lux down the slope, their feet slipping and sliding on the loose dirt and rocks. The descent was treacherous, and Zoey's hands scraped against the rough surface as she tried to keep her balance.

They reached the bottom, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Zoey looked around, her eyes scanning the narrow ravine. The walls were high, offering some protection from the flames, but they couldn't stay here for long. Jay would have no hope of spotting them.

"We need to keep moving," Lux said as she started down the ravine.

Zoey followed, her legs trembling with exhaustion. The ravine was narrow and winding, the walls pressing in on either side of them. The air was cooler here, but the smell of smoke still hung heavy, a constant reminder of the fire that raged above.

As they rounded a bend, Zoey felt something catch her foot, and she stumbled again. She cried out as pain shot through her ankle, the sharp, sudden jolt bringing tears to her eyes.

Lux was at her side in an instant, her hands gripping Zoey's arms as she tried to help her up.

"I think I twisted it," Zoey said, her voice tight with pain.

Lux looked up at the ravine, her eyes filled with worry. "We can't stop here, Zoey. The fire?—"

"I know," Zoey said, cutting her off. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand, leaning heavily on Lux for support. Every step sent a jolt of pain through her ankle, but she didn't let herself think about it.

They kept moving, the ravine winding its way through the forest. The smoke was thinner here, and Zoey could feel the temperature dropping as they put more distance between themselves and the fire.

But they weren't safe yet. The fire was still out there, still chasing them, and Zoey knew they couldn't let their guard down. They had to keep moving, keep pushing forward, no matter how exhausted they were.

As they reached the end of the ravine, Zoey could see the sky through the trees, dark clouds of smoke hanging heavy above them. The sound of the helicopter was gone, lost in the chaos of the fire.

"We need to find somewhere she can see us," Lux said as she scanned the area.

"Jay, she was here," Zoey said. "We missed her, Lux. We missed her."

"She'd still be around here somewhere," Lux said. "She has to be."

"And if she isn't?" Zoey asked. "What if she somehow had issues with the chopper and couldn't hang around any longer?"

"We just have to hope she didn't leave, Zoey. She can't leave."

"What if she did, Lux?" Zoey asked.

Lux stopped pacing and stared at Zoey. She raised a finger and pointed it up the mountain. "Then we'd better get up that mountain or we're toast. Literally."

"Fine. Come on," Zoey said, moving ahead of Lux.

The trail was narrow, and the dense trees on either side offered some shade from the heat.

"We need to get as far away from here as possible," Zoey said, glancing over at Lux.

"Yeah," Lux said. She didn't add that the steepness was starting to wear on her.

The ground beneath them got rockier. Lux adjusted her footing, careful not to slip. Zoey was ahead, her gaze fixed on the trail.

"Watch your step," Zoey said.

Lux nodded, focusing on her footing. The rocks were loose, shifting slightly under her weight, but she managed to keep her balance. Zoey was just a few steps ahead, moving at a steady pace.

"Have you ever been stuck out here before?" Zoey asked.

"No," Lux replied. "I did get lost in a game reserve once, though."

"Are you serious?"

"True story. Luckily, my father found me in less than five minutes."

"That doesn't count as being lost, does it?" Zoey asked.

"When you're wondering which wild animal would find you first, time moves pretty slowly."

"I know that feeling."

Lux groaned as her ankle hit against a stem. She slowed down.

"You okay?" Zoey asked, slowing down, too.

"It's fine. I'm fine." Lux continued walking. "Walking has never been my strong suit."

"No arguments there," Zoey said. "Explains why you chose to fly a chopper instead."

Lux chuckled. "You could say that."

After what felt like hours of walking, they came across a small stream. The water trickled gently over smooth stones, the sound soothing against the backdrop of their heavy breathing.

"Let's take a quick break," Zoey said, dropping her pack on the ground. "We could use a bath."

Lux hesitated, looking up the mountain. She knew they needed to keep moving, but the thought of washing off the dirt and sweat was tempting.

"Just a few minutes," Zoey added, already pulling off her boots.

Lux finally nodded, setting her pack down. She knelt by the stream, dipping her fingers into the water. It was warmer than she expected, but felt good against her skin.

"Feels nice," Zoey said, wading into the shallow water.

Lux followed, the warm water lapping at her legs. The stream wasn't deep, just covering her ankles, but it was enough to wash away the grime that clung to her skin.

Zoey cupped her hands, splashing water over her arms and neck. Lux did the same, the warmth of the water soothing her aching muscles. They moved slowly, almost lazily, letting the water rinse away the dirt and sweat.

Lux glanced over at Zoey, noticing how the water clung to her skin and the way her wet hair stuck to her neck. Zoey looked up, meeting Lux's gaze. She flashed a small, almost shy smile.

"Better?" Zoey asked.

Lux nodded. "Yeah. Better."

They stayed in the water for a few more minutes, letting the warmth soak into their skin. Lux could feel the tension in her body easing, the steady thrum of anxiety quieting just a bit.

But they couldn't stay there forever.

Zoey was the first to move, stepping out of the stream and reaching for her boots and pack. Lux followed, reluctantly pulling herself out of the water and drying off as best as she could.

"We should keep going," Zoey said.

Lux nodded, slipping her boots back on. The moment of peace was over, but it had been enough to keep her going. She could still feel the warmth of the water on her skin as they started walking again.

They continued up the mountain. The ground was rougher, and the rocks were less stable. Lux's legs ached with every step, but she kept moving, determined not to slow down.

As they walked, Zoey spotted a cluster of bushes along the trail, their branches heavy with dark, ripe berries. She paused, reaching out to pluck a few.

"Berries," she said, holding one out to Lux.

Lux took it, the sweet taste bursting on her tongue as she bit into it. It was a small comfort, but it was something. They ate in silence; the only sounds were the crunch of leaves under their boots and the occasional rustle of the wind in the trees.

The trail was narrower here, the trees thinning out as they got higher. The air was cooler, a welcome change from the heat that had followed them for so long.

After what felt like an eternity, Lux spotted a break in the trees up ahead. The ground leveled out slightly as the dense forest gave way to a small clearing. The sky was visible through the branches, and the clouds hung low and heavy.

"I think we've found a clearing," Zoey said.

Lux stepped into the clearing, her eyes scanning the scene. The ground was covered in soft grass, and the air was filled with the scent of pine and earth. It was peaceful, almost serene, but Lux couldn't shake the worry gnawing at the back of her mind.

She looked over at Zoey, who was staring up at the sky. The concern was still there, lingering in her eyes despite the calm.

"We'll make it," Zoey said.

Lux nodded, forcing herself to believe it.

"We should rest here for a bit," she said, glancing around the clearing.

Zoey agreed, her body finally giving in to the exhaustion.

Lux sank onto the grass, letting the cool air wash over her. Zoey sat beside her, the two of them sharing a moment of quiet.

For now, it was enough.