Step

Because the siblings chose the closest tent to the roundabout there were no obstructions in their way until after the pathway extended in the four cardinal directions. The murder squad was not as lucky with the tents hindering their line towards the siblings. The sounds of feet running over tent poles and bodies crashing into the fabric followed by curses were very audible. 

Lorey pushed her legs to their limit, straining to reach the pathway leading to the roundabout. A few seconds passed before the siblings reached the roundabout, the murder squad were ten meters behind and about to exit the field of tents.

Glancing backwards her face shifted to one of exasperation.

'Where's Shem?'

Mercifully Lorey did not have to wait long as Shem barrelled towards her, just barely able to avoid her whilst halting half a meter away. 

Due to the limited vision only Shem's right foot was in sight but knowing each other's locations the siblings hurried towards one another before stopping. No words were spoken but numerous solutions to the current problem appeared in her train of thought. 

'There are three options.

First is to fight, by voices previously and the number of footsteps approaching us, we know that is not a good idea because we are outnumbered. We also do not know their background, they may be part of the military which would again put us at a disadvantage.' Around three people were headed towards their location, now about seven meters away.

'Second, we run. This is more feasible but since it's dark I might lose Shem.' Instantly dismissing that plan after the thought of losing her brother Lorey moved onto the next, the footsteps now six meters away. 

'Lastly, we stand still or move quietly, I won't lose Shem in the dark this way and they will not be able to track us without any sound cue.' Choosing the third option Lorey tightly grasped Shem's hand, guiding him quietly towards the south pathway while signaling with a finger over her mouth to be quiet. 

Their pursuers also halted, without any information on her location they would most likely search silently together as to not provide her with an advantage. Only a few seconds had passed since the siblings ceased movement and Lorey's face was filled with stress and anxiety.

'They probably will keep searching in the direction we were initially headed.'

Understanding this now she changed their direction to head west, walking towards the roundabout. 

The darkness pressed into them while Lorey walked westward to first find the roundabout curve. No matter how hard she tried to peer into the dark nothing changed, only a seemingly infinite abyss stared back. 

Sensory deprivation started to act on her, the lack of noise and visuals taking effect. The rhythmic sound of her beating heart and Shem's hand being the only things holding her to reality. 

'This is bad …

I knew it was going to be dark but this is really fucked.'

The slap of a foot on concrete could be heard five meters away from Lorey, the noise prompting her to move faster, understanding that this part of their escape was the riskiest when they would be theoretically, the closest. 

Each step was agonizing, her mind kept imagining a gun condensing from the shadows. The dull click of the trigger followed by a deafening bang. 

*Step*

The crinkle of a dried leaf broke Lorey's train of thought, the sound seemed to echo forever somewhat like yelling down a long hallway. 

'Shit!

They definitely heard that!' She thought. Luckily the sound was not enough for her pursuers to immediately identify their location, only enough for a hint. 

Shem and Lorey kept treading carefully at a steady pace, soon enough, the gloom of plants appeared in front of her, signaling that they had reached the roundabout. Now all they had to do was walk around it and they would be safe!