We blast through a deserted industrial zone, half-abandoned warehouses looming like silent watchers. The SUV is still on us, each turn we take mirrored by its pursuit. Heart hammering, I scan the darkness for any advantage.
"There!" I shout, spotting a narrow alley partially blocked by a chain-link fence. Elena cranks the wheel, the car's side scraping ominously against metal. My teeth rattle from the impact. We can barely squeeze through.
The SUV attempts to follow but slams into the fence, grinding to a halt with a horrific crunch. Elena jerks the steering wheel, nearly losing control, but we manage to speed out the other side. The last thing I see is a pair of headlights forced to reverse, twisted fence posts entangling their bumper.
Our battered car roars onto a side street. Elena gulps air, gripping the wheel like a lifeline. For now, we've lost them. "That was too close," she gasps. My heart hasn't slowed; my hands shake. This is only the beginning, I realize.