bChapter /bb233 /b

    bNear /bbthe /bside door, clutter was piled up. Sebastian noticed broken furniture lying overturned on the ground, with fresh drag marks visible in bthe /bdust.

    Sebastian steps onto the makeshift tform of wooden furniture, just high enough to scale the wall. He peers over and spots fresh footprints bin /bbthe /bsnow

    outside.

    b“/bOver here!” Sebastian shouted to the officers behind him.

    Meanwhile, Maxine limped forward with Brian at her side, gasping for breath as her ankle grew nearly numb.

    With red–rimmed eyes, Brian tugged at her arm. “Mom,” he said, “let me carry you.”

    Though just a young teen, Brian was already almost as tall as Maxine. It was no surprise, given both his parents tall genes.

    Maxine shook her head. “I’m fine. Just focus on the trail, I only remember the general direction, and we absolutely can’t get lost here.”

    They could escape by following the mountain path if they could actually manage to stay on it.

    The recent heavy snow had obliterated any trace of the mountain path. Maxine and Brian could only barely discern its general direction by the trees lining either side.

    In these freezing mountains, getting lost would mean certain death from hypothermia.

    Maxine didn’t even realize her voice was trembling as she spoke. Brian steadied her by the shoulders and clutched her icy hand, feeling her whole body shivering uncontrobly.

    In the rush to leave the house, they barely had time to throw on anything warm. They ran out so fast that sweat soaked through their undershirt, band /bwhen the wind hit, they were shivering so hard that their teeth wouldn’t stop chattering.

    Maxine felt herself on the verge of cking out.

    But she still had Brian with her. If she cked out in the snow now, there was no way he could make it out of here alone.

    ‘If only Sebastian would appear right now,‘ Maxine thought desperately.

    Maxine gasped for breath, cold sweat beading on her forehead as waves of nausea churned in her stomach.

    Maxine’s hand unconsciously tightened around Brian’s, her teeth chattering. She wanted tofort the frightened boy, but her thoughts were jumbled. Maxine managed to say, her voice thin and strained, “We’re… almost there. Don’t… be afraid.”

    Brian raised a hand to wipe the tears from his face, his voice hoarse but firm as he said, “I’m not scared.”

    Maxine drew a shaky breath and whispered, “Almost there… Maybe your dad wille for bus /bsoon.”

    Maxine thought she was speaking loudly, but in reality, her voice was barely a whisper. Brian had to lean in, pressing his ear close to her lips to catch bher /bwords.

    Maxine shook her head at him, her voice barely above a whisper. “Go. Hurry.”

    No sooner had Maxine spoken than her legs gave way, and she crumpled to the ground.

    Brian tried to catch her, but his grip slipped, and they both tumbled into the snow together.

    Maxiney in the soft snow, her consciousness fading as she felt herself slipping away, until Brian’s desperate, tear–choked voice bcut /bthrough bthe /bbhaze/b, calling her name.

    She bit her lip, forcing her eyes open. As she struggled to get up from the ground, a sharp pain shot through her swollen bankle/b.

    Maxine let bout /bba /bbshaky /bbsigh/bb, /bbarely clinging to consciousness as she weakly pointed aheadb. /b“Just keep goingb… /bbstraight /bthis way… bmy /bbcar’s /bbparked /bbup /b

    bahead/b,”

    Fear gripped Brian’s heart, but he shook his head stubbornly. “I’m going with you, Momb.” /b

    Maxine sighed weakly. “I’ve sprained my ankle… I can’t go any further. You go on ahead, there should be signal up there. bYou /bbcan /bcall for help.”

    Brian’s voice cracked with barely suppressed tears as he rushed to Maxine’s side, yanked her phone from her pocketb, /band cried, “bNo /bbway /bwe’vee bthis /bfar and still can’t even send one damn text!”

    biAD/i/b