Chapter 14
The heat from the fire was intense,
forcing Harrison back a step.
The wooden porch was already collapsing,
sparks flying into the air.
He covered his face with his sleeve,
ready to rush inside anyway.
Suddenly,
a voice called out from the tree line behind him.
"Harrison!
Over here!"
He turned quickly,
seeing Marcus supporting Khloe,
who was holding the baby.
They were alive,
sheltered behind a large boulder.
Harrison ran to them,
his relief so great he could barely breathe.
"Are you alright?"
he asked,
examining Khloe for injuries.
"We are fine,"
Khloe gasped,
coughing from the smoke.
"Marcus saw them coming and got us out before they threw the firebombs."
Marcus looked exhausted,
a dark bruise forming on his forehead.
"There were three of them,
Harrison,"
Marcus said,
his voice tight.
"Julian was leading them."
"He didn't want to capture them,
he wanted to destroy everything."
Harrison looked back at the burning cabin,
his face illuminated by the orange flames.
The destruction was complete,
the small house turning to ashes.
Julian had crossed a line from which there was no return.
"Where did they go?"
Harrison asked,
his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"They fled down the northern trail,"
Marcus said,
pointing toward the dense woods.
"They think you are all dead inside."
"Good,"
Harrison said,
a cold determination settling over him.
"Let them think that."
"Marcus,
take Khloe and the baby to the nearest police station in town."
"Tell them it was an accident for now."
"Keep them safe."
Khloe grabbed his jacket,
her eyes wide with fear.
"Harrison,
don't go after him alone."
"He has weapons."
"He has weapons,
Khloe,"
Harrison said gently,
unlinking her fingers.
"But I have the truth,
and I have nothing left to lose."
"I am going to end this nightmare today."
He kissed her cheek,
then turned toward the dark trail.
The forest was thick and quiet,
the sound of the fire fading behind him.
He tracked their footprints in the soft mud,
moved by a silent,
unstoppable rage.
He walked for miles,
the daylight beginning to fade once more.
The trees grew closer together,
creating a labyrinth of shadows.
He heard voices ahead,
low and laughing.
They thought they had won.
They thought Harrison was broken.
He slowed his pace,
May you like
moving silently through the brush,
approaching the clearing where they had stopped.
