Target on the Mountain by Elizabeth Goddard (the chimp paradox .txt) 📕

comfortable as possible, then together they placed the bed over the top of him. Alex prayed that Deacon would be safe until help arrived. “We have to hurry, Rachel. They’re not far.”

They grabbed their gear and headed out to where Alex had left the old beat-up truck running.

Rachel slid in the driver’s side and Alex followed. He shoved the truck in gear and turned the vehicle toward the rudimentary road that had been carved out of the woods.

“Hang on,” he told her. “I’m afraid this is going to be one hairy ride.”

He was right. Rachel clung to the door handle as the truck bounced over downed trees and debris left from years of logging. Alex kept his attention on the road ahead as it tested all his skills. Where were the men he’d spotted in the woods? He was pretty sure he’d hit one of them, but by his best account there had been at least half a dozen others up on the hill above the camp.

The headlights of the truck were so bad that he could barely see where they were going. He was forced to slow the truck’s speed down to a crawl as he rounded a curve.

Ice still clung to the road in places where the sunlight didn’t reach. The truck slid sideways and close to the mountain’s edge. Rachel stifled a scream in response.

Somehow, Alex got the truck back on the path, but his hands shook from the close call. Doing his best to dodge downed trees, he continued to weave down the mountainside.

Without warning, the front windshield exploded. Both Alex and Rachel ducked as glass flew everywhere, narrowly missing their eyes.

Another round riddled the passenger side of the truck. Alex could barely see where he was going as the shots continued to ricochet off the truck, and he was forced to stay low. He managed a quick glance ahead and saw five men emerge in front of them, weapons aimed at the truck.

Alex slammed the brakes on hard. The men kept advancing. They were all out of options. If they continued forward, they’d be shot. Desperate to keep them alive, Alex shoved the vehicle in Reverse and tried to keep the truck on the trail.

“Get down.” He barely got the words out when the men opened fire. Alex whipped the truck around and headed back the direction they’d come.

“We need to find another way out of here. Otherwise, we’re trapped.” Alex glanced over at Rachel. She was white as a sheet. “They’re on foot. We’re not,” he said without feeling nearly as confident about what he’d said. He’d scouted the area briefly. This was the only road he’d seen. “Do you remember the layout of what’s just below this camp?” The road in front of them quickly disappeared and was replaced with overgrown brush.

“Alex, there’s no road past the camp. There’s nothing.” She confirmed his worst fears. “We’ll never make it down this way.”

He barely had time to process what she said before he realized they were now surrounded by armed men. There would be no escaping now.

EIGHT

Alex hit the brakes as the men circled the truck.

Rachel watched the men advancing on them. “What do we do now?” she forced out.

She saw the reality of their situation reflected in his eyes. “We give up.”

She couldn’t believe what she heard. They were still no closer to knowing what had happened to Liam than when they’d first started. “No, Alex, we can’t. We have to keep fighting.”

He shook his head. “If we resist, we’ll be dead. We have to stay alive. It’s the only way to save Deacon and find Liam.”

Tears filled her eyes. She knew he was right. She didn’t want to die here. Not without knowing what had happened to her brother. Not with things still unsettled between herself and Alex.

“They wouldn’t be coming after us this hard if they’d found Liam,” Alex reasoned. “I believe they still need us. They won’t kill us if we don’t resist. Maybe we can buy enough time for my team to arrive.”

As she looked at his handsome face, there were so many things she wanted to say, but now was not the time. She would fight with everything inside her to live another day because she wanted to have the chance to tell Alex everything that was in her heart.

With a smile of encouragement for her sake, Alex yelled, “Hold your fire. We’re coming out.” To her he said, “Do what I do, okay?”

He waited for her to confirm, then he slowly opened the driver’s-side door. With his hands in the air, he got out. Rachel hesitated a second longer before doing the same.

“Search them,” one of the men shouted, and someone jerked Alex forward and quickly patted him down. They took his gun and phone right away. Their backpacks with all their supplies were still in the truck.

Another man forced Rachel to turn around, then he searched her. Alex tried to free himself to get to her side, but his captor slugged him hard in the gut. He dropped to his knees. The man reached for him again.

“No, stop. Don’t hurt him. We’re cooperating with you.” Rachel was terrified they’d kill Alex.

The person looming over Alex hauled him to his feet.

“Get them back to the cabin,” said the man who had ordered his men to search them. She and Alex were forced into the bed of the truck, along with several armed men, and driven back to the cabin where they’d left Deacon. What they’d tried to prevent was happening.

Don’t let them find Deacon.

The man holding Rachel’s arm in a viselike grip shoved her hard, and she flew into the cabin, almost losing her balance.

Alex freed himself from his restrainer and hurried to her side. “Are you okay?” he asked while glaring at the man who’d shoved her.

“I’m fine.” She touched his arm and forced his gaze to her. “I’m okay, Alex.”

The anger slowly evaporated from him. They both needed to keep their wits about them