Amazingly the resilient teenager was already pushing herself up to her feet. Dressed in cutoffs and tank top, her hair was full of dust and tangles, and her arms, legs, and one of her cheeks were a bit scraped up.
Other than that, from what Avery could tell, she was fine.
Thank you, God!
“Holy crap!” The bedraggled girl blew out a breath. “I can’t believe we just did that!”
“Me…neither.” With a wince, it took Avery a bit longer to rise to her feet. Still wearing nothing but her one-piece suit, she felt like every inch of her exposed skin was already beginning to bruise.
Definitely going to feel that for a few days.
Shooting the fading truck a quick glance, Avery nearly cried in relief when she saw it still driving away.
Motioning to the grass, she said, “Come on. We need to keep ourselves covered as much as possible in case he notices we’re gone and comes back.”
Fighting past the pain in her battered body and the unprotected soles of her feet, Avery walked over rough dirt and rocks as they made their way into the field.
The grass was thicker here than the fields she’d seen from their early morning bus ride, but still didn’t conceal them completely. Still, it was better than nothing.
Running as fast as they could back in the direction from which they came, Avery kept her eyes peeled for any signs of life. A house, a car…something that would give them a chance to find help for Garrett and the others.
Several minutes later, she heard it.
A motor. Not rough and clunky like the truck they’d jumped from. This one sounded smoother. Newer.
“There!” Jess yelled. “Hey! Over here!”
She was at the side of the road before Avery could stop her. Jumping up and down, she did what she could to catch the driver’s attention.
Avery swung her head back toward the oncoming vehicle.
She could see the black SUV clearly now. Not only was it new, but it also looked official. Like ones she’d expect someone from the government to be driving.
Or a drug dealing mob boss who liked to cut people up for fun.
Fearing it was the latter and cursing her enjoyment of scary movies, Avery ran to where Jess was still jumping. “Jess, wait!”
Afraid thiswaslike the horror flicks she’d seen—the ones where the people escape only to flag down one of their captors—Avery yelled at Jess to come back into the grass.
“What are you doing?” Jess argued even as she followed her.
Shoulders burning from the strain, Avery dropped into a crouched position. “What if it’s them?”
“What if it’s not? My dad’s back there!”
So was Garrett.
Shit, shit, shit.
They were at a crossroads. A giant one. And Avery had no idea which one to choose.
If these were the bad guys and she and Jess had just flagged them down, they were truly and royally screwed. But if it was someone else, someone who could help them get Garrett and the others free…
The vehicle skidded to a stop, and Avery’s heart leaped into her throat.
Apparently, it didn’t matterwhichroad she would’ve chosen. Whoever was in that SUV had already seen them.
“Avery?”