Chapter 8: The Ultimatum
"David Vance," a smooth, synthesized voice echoed through the trees. "We know you are in there. We know you have the drive. We have Mary."
David’s grip on the pistol tightened until his knuckles cracked.
"She is currently sitting in the back of this vehicle. She is alive. For now," the voice continued, perfectly calm, utterly devoid of humanity. "You have exactly two options. Option one: You walk out the front door, place the SD card on the porch, and step back inside. We take the drive, we leave Mary, and you disappear to a new life. We will ensure you are never bothered again. Option two: We burn the cabin to the ground with you and your son inside, and we take the drive from your charred remains. You have sixty seconds to decide."
David’s mind raced. It was a lie. They would never let them live, not with what David had seen. But if there was even a fraction of a chance to get Mary back...
May you like
He looked back at the bed. Leo’s terrified eyes shone in the moonlight from beneath the frame.
"Stay here, no matter what you hear," David whispered to his son.
