Chapter Twenty

Zach had had every intention of heading back to civilization and taking Tarkhan to the nearest hospital. But when he’d gotten into the vehicle, he’d found some sort of tracking device. A red dot flashing in the center of a screen. They were tracking Eve.

He helped Tarkhan into the back. He made it, and then promptly blacked out. Likely a combination of pain and being unaccustomed to alcohol. It was probably just as well. The ride was rough, and Zach was pushing the vehicle as fast as it would go over the uneven terrain. He went over one bump, and the vehicle flew into the air, crashing down, hurling him against the steering wheel. He straightened, hands locking on the wheel, and rammed his foot onto the pedal, speeding up.

He couldn’t shake the gut feeling that he was running out of time. He had a pistol on his lap and another—taken from the dead hand of the former owner of the vehicle—lay on the passenger seat.

As the blue lake came into sight, the tracking device beeped a proximity warning.

He saw the horses first. Agitated, turning, spinning, rearing.

Then the people. He took in the sight at a glance. John held a goddamn spear in one hand and a gun in the other. The gun was aimed at a bedraggled but defiant Eve. He didn’t slow; he heaved the steering wheel around, pressed his hands on the horn, and headed straight for John.

He turned, eyes wide, fixed in place. They were going to collide. And Zach didn’t give a shit.

At the last moment, John hurled himself to the side. Zach slammed his foot on the brake. The vehicle skidded to a halt, and Zach was out. He looked around, but John was gone. Seemingly vanished. He must have disappeared into the trees; there was nowhere else to go. Zach ran after him, stopping inside the tree line. The place was quiet, no hint of movement.

He looked back. Eve stood, clutching her side, blood soaking her clothing. He scanned the forest.

John Chen was gone. For now. There would be another time. At least he knew he wasn’t crazy.

And he turned back.

He shoved the pistol into its holster and walked to where Eve stood, staring after where John had vanished, brows drawn together in a vicious frown. “He took my spear,” she said.

“That old thing? I’ll get you another one,” he promised. “A new, shiny one this time.”

She laughed and then crumpled to the ground.