Ch 41: The Perilous Pursuit

The moment Kael and Mira crossed into the neutral zone, they knew they weren't free.

The barren landscape stretched before them, a graveyard of rusted husks and shattered concrete, where war had stripped the earth bare and left it to rot. This was supposed to be the end of their escape. Instead, it was turning into the beginning of another hunt.

The soft crackle of Consortium radio chatter filled the crawler's interior, intercepted through Kael's console.

"Target spotted. Confirm pursuit."

"Confirmed. Sector seven. Three klicks south. Moving to intercept."

"Keep them boxed in. Thorn wants them alive."

Mira clenched her jaw. "Damn it. They're treating us like prey."

Kael's grip tightened on the wheel as he swerved around a crater, pushing the crawler's engine harder. "They're not wrong."

Behind them, a rising dust cloud stretched across the horizon—Consortium vehicles, at least half a dozen, all moving in perfect formation. These weren't just any pursuers; they were elite hunters, soldiers who had been trained for extreme conditions, tracking them like wolves herding their prey into a corner.

Kael flicked a few switches on the dashboard, rerouting power into the engine. The crawler gave a mechanical whine as it surged forward.

"They're gaining," Mira warned, peering through the scope of her rifle. She adjusted the zoom, focusing on the lead vehicle. "They're fast. Too fast."

Kael didn't need to be told twice. The Consortium's pursuit craft were sleek, reinforced for high-speed desert chases. The crawler wasn't built for outright speed—it was built for endurance and adaptability. But against pure firepower, endurance wouldn't mean much.

Mira turned to him, sharp-eyed. "What's the plan?"

Kael didn't answer immediately. His fingers drummed against the wheel as he adjusted their course, veering toward a rocky ravine splitting the neutral zone.

Mira frowned. "That's a death trap."

Kael's expression didn't shift. "Only if you don't know the way out."

Mira shot him a sharp look. "Kael."

"I have a plan," he said, this time more firmly. "But you need to trust me."

Mira exhaled sharply, checking her ammo. "Fine. But if this gets us killed, I'm haunting you."

Kael smirked, though his eyes remained locked on the path ahead.

The crawler rattled violently as it hit uneven ground, kicking up plumes of dust and rock. Mira braced herself, stealing another glance through the scope.

"They're spreading out," she said. "Trying to box us in before the pass."

Kael nodded. He'd expected that. Thorn was predictable in his efficiency. He wouldn't waste time on drawn-out fights—he'd maneuver his prey into an unwinnable position and strike only when the kill was guaranteed.

Kael wasn't planning on letting him get that chance.

The ravine loomed ahead—a jagged scar in the earth, a relic of some long-forgotten bombardment. It stretched for miles, narrow and unpredictable, with rock formations that created a labyrinth of dead ends and sudden drop-offs. Perfect for losing a pursuer.

Or trapping one.

Mira was still scanning the vehicles behind them when something caught her eye. "Shit. Drones. High-altitude recon models."

Kael grimaced. That was bad. The Consortium had deployed airborne scouts, their electronic eyes sweeping the landscape for any escape routes. The moment they were cornered, the drones would call in more reinforcements.

"They're getting serious," Mira said.

"They should be." Kael checked a small device clipped to his belt—a modified frequency jammer. "I need them to think they're winning."

Mira narrowed her eyes at him. "What the hell does that mean?"

Kael didn't answer. Instead, he twisted the wheel sharply, sending the crawler veering toward a rock formation. For a split second, Mira thought they were going to slam headfirst into it—until she realized what he was doing.

Kael maneuvered the vehicle so close that the stone clipped the rear antenna, sending a shower of sparks into the air.

"Tell me that was intentional," Mira said, gripping the side of her seat.

Kael smirked. "Gotta make it look convincing."

Behind them, one of the Consortium vehicles accelerated. Their lead pursuer had seen the sparks, had likely marked them as a crippled vehicle running out of options. Just as Kael intended.

He didn't need to outrun them. He needed them to think they had him.

The entrance to the ravine was narrow, barely wider than the crawler itself. The rock walls closed in around them as Kael gunned the engine, forcing them deeper into the jagged terrain.

Mira checked behind them. "They're still following. Closing fast."

"They're supposed to," Kael muttered.

Mira scowled. "Okay, seriously. What's the deal? Why are you acting like getting cornered is part of the plan?"

Kael's eyes flicked toward her, just briefly. "Because it is."

Mira opened her mouth to argue—but then a bullet pinged off the crawler's side.

She ducked instinctively, then popped back up with her rifle, scanning for the shooter. "Snipers on the ridge!"

Kael gritted his teeth. Thorn had planned ahead. The Consortium had stationed marksmen along the ravine walls, turning their only escape route into a gauntlet.

Kael's hands moved quickly, adjusting switches, overriding the crawler's internal systems.

Mira, firing off a shot to suppress the snipers, glanced down. "What the hell are you—"

"I need you to trust me," Kael interrupted, his voice calm. Too calm.

Mira's instincts screamed at her.

Kael had been too prepared for this. Too certain.

She wasn't sure what game he was playing, but she was sure of one thing:

Whatever it was, it wasn't just about escape.

As they weaved through the ravine, Kael stole glances at the rock formations above. Every now and then, he adjusted something on his wrist console—calculations, inputs, minor changes.

Mira noticed.

She didn't say anything at first. But after a particularly sharp turn nearly sent them skidding into a wall, she snapped, "Kael. Whatever the hell you're setting up, now would be a great time to clue me in."

Kael didn't respond right away. He was watching something—a faint shimmer on the rock face, barely noticeable in the haze.

Then, under his breath, he murmured, "One more day."

Mira blinked. "What?"

Kael exhaled, eyes locking on the path ahead. "Just hold on, Mira. One more day."

Behind them, Thorn's forces roared into the ravine, their vehicles closing the distance.

Kael's plan was nearly in place.

And Mira was starting to realize—whatever he had in store, it wasn't going to be pretty.