Chapter 17: The Unseen Threat
Anika’s pulse raced as she crouched behind the thick trunk of a tree, her eyes fixed on the clearing ahead. The bear was still, its massive form low to the ground, watching the group of figures gathered around the dark vehicle. There was no mistaking it now—these weren’t just random campers or hikers. The way they moved, their attention fixed on the area, told Anika they were part of something far bigger. Something she wasn’t prepared for.
Martinez, standing beside her, shifted uneasily. “What do you think they’re doing out here?” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rain. “This doesn’t look like just some random group.”
Anika shook her head, her mind racing. “No. This feels… planned. The bear didn’t just stumble onto them. It knew they were here.” Her eyes flicked toward the animal, which hadn’t budged, its gaze locked on the group. The tension between the bear and the people was palpable, but neither side made a move. It was as if they were waiting for something.
One of the figures, a man in dark clothing, moved toward the vehicle, his steps deliberate. He seemed to be checking something near the back, a box, maybe, or some sort of equipment. Anika’s eyes narrowed. Whatever was going on, it had nothing to do with the bear and everything to do with Evan.
“Do you think they’re connected to Rowe?” Martinez asked, his voice filled with suspicion.
“I don’t know,” Anika replied, her throat tight. “But I think Rowe knew more than he was letting on. And this… this looks like a part of the same operation. It’s not just about Evan. It’s about something else.”
The man at the vehicle straightened and spoke to the others, his voice low. They gathered around him, exchanging quick, quiet words, though Anika couldn’t make out the details. But the urgency in their posture—the way they moved—told her they were discussing something important. Something that involved the bear.
And then, the man turned toward the woods, his eyes scanning the trees, locking on Anika’s position for a split second before looking away. She held her breath, praying he hadn’t seen her, but there was something about the way he had looked that made her skin crawl. It was as though they had known they were being watched all along.
Before she could react, the bear moved, stepping forward with quiet purpose. Anika’s heart jumped into her throat. It wasn’t retreating. It was advancing.
Martinez stepped back, his hand on his gun, ready to move. “We need to act fast,” he murmured.
But as Anika glanced back at the group in the clearing, she realized it wasn’t just the bear they had to worry about.
The threat was much closer than they thought.
To be continued…