The next option was to pack. Ess had to be ready. She had no desire to test the deranged man's threats. With that decision made, she began going through her things. What did she have available to her? And what would be most useful to her?

With nimble quickness and flickers of plots forming in her head, Ess began sifting through her closet and medicine cabinets, looking for the right weapons for her endeavor.

* * *

The BMW charged down the road in silence. Its passengers gave up speaking hours ago, having spent so much time together in the cramped vicinity of the car's cabin. The bulk of the journey was nearly at an end. Soon they would have to sum up the nerve to break into a huge and well-guarded estate. The only person in the car who could ever have imagined finding themselves in such an outlandish predicament during their lifetime was Martin.

Roden felt the magnitude of such anxiety radiate from the young woman next to him. Manda had shown herself rarely to be at a loss for words, and now everyone present could feel the stifling effects from her lack of commentary. The true weight of the impending danger dampened the bravado of them all.

Trees and bushes sped past them along the side of the lonely road. No other cars crossed their path, and Martin claimed that they wouldn't see any, either. No one had cause to use this isolated drive accept Angoli and those on his payroll. The solitude of this wooded area made Roden feel all the more apprehensive regarding what they were about to do.

As they rounded a bend in the road, the four companions made out the image of a black SUV in the distance. It was heading towards them. "Manda, Max. Get down!" Martin cried.

It took only a moment for the significance of his order to register to them. Manda let out a little squeak of fear, and the three passengers dunked their heads below the window as the SUV came upon them. Thinking quickly, Roden tried to look nonchalant, like he was just some unremarkably inconspicuous driver out on a joyride as the other vehicle passed.

Such luck would not be theirs, however. Of course, Angoli's men ultimately recognized the car that Martin had driven to the gas station the previous day. After that moment of recognition, the SUV squealed into a u-turn and began charging after the small coup. Roden caught the action in his rearview mirror, and put his foot down on the gas. The other three passengers looked behind them, having caught on, as well. Terror was written on all of their faces as they urged the BMW forward with their minds, hoping to put space between them and their chasers.

Moments later, the sound of gunfire could be heard. Manda screamed and hid her head under her arms.

"Shit! They're shooting at us," Martin exclaimed, in case the others couldn't comprehend the sharp banging sounds coming from behind them. "Step on it, Doc!"

Roden gave him a quick snarl from the rearview mirror. He was going as fast as he could, while maintaining control over the winding road. The good doctor, desperate to save his passengers (and his car), was doing his best. This was his first car chase, after all, which was most likely not the case for Martin.

When a bullet ripped through the side view mirror on Roden's side of the car, he let out a howling curse of aggravation. The men in the SUV appeared to be shooting with the intent to kill, and even his car wasn't safe. This meant war to him now. Managing to keep control of the steering, he increased the speed of the car to its limits.

The SUV increased its speed in unison, and came upon them at an alarming rate. Within seconds, they felt the jolt as the SUV rammed into the backside of the BMW. The intent was to force the small car off of the road, but Roden wasn't about to go down without a fight. He knew the capabilities of his beloved vehicle, and sustained control of the wheels as the car straightened back over the road.

"There's a dirt road up ahead on your left, doc. Turn down it as fast as you can." Fear caused Martin to frantically cry out his direction. Roden gave him a skeptical look through the mirror. He didn't want any of Martin's asinine ideas to destroy his car or jeopardize their lives any further. Martin, whose life was in just as much danger as the other three, since he knew he would be as good as dead if they found that he was helping Max, gave him a demanding glare, and shouted, "Just do it!"

Roden saw the turn ahead, and at the last moment, swung the steering wheel in that direction. The back wheels of the BMW skidded across the pavement, while the front wheels met the dirt on the path, tossing loose stones in all directions. Roden put his foot down on the gas, and the car hugged the unpaved road as it sped into the woods.

The black SUV followed with a fast turn of its own. The weight distribution of the larger vehicle could not handle the turn like the small BMW, and the change from concrete to gravel made it unable to grip the sharp bend. It rolled onto it's side at the entrance to the path, and slid across the terrain until it slammed into a tree. The damage from the torn metal and crushed roof stopped the assailants in their tracks.

Roden heaved a sigh, after witnessing the collision, while Manda clutched the door handle with white knuckles; her eyes still squeezed shut to keep from seeing what might be hurtling towards them. Max and Martin could only stare behind them in disbelief at the destruction. No one in the car seemed able to find their voice to speak.

Roden kept going down the dirt path, which was much narrower and even more secluded than the paved road, continuing with as much swiftness as possible. Martin finally calmed himself enough to direct him to drive to the end of the path. They would be able to hike towards the house from there.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Max, Roden and Manda reluctantly followed Martin through the rough milieu of the woods. After a serious threat to ensure Martin didn't try anything conniving, they grudgingly let him guide the way. Max stayed close, and kept the gun in his belt, where he could reach it at a moment's notice if he became even remotely suspicious of the unreliable crook in front of him. Martin tried to appear offended by their mistrust, but couldn't hide his amusement at the measures they tried to take to keep him in line.

Roden glanced back at his car a few times, until it was no longer visible in the dimness of the trees. He hated to leave it behind, worried that he wouldn't be able to find it again; or worse, that someone else would find it first. He carefully traced his steps so that he could retrace them again when the time came.

Manda continued her quiet state over the gravity of the situation. They were closer to Ess than ever, and the idea of breaking and entering into the well secured home was enough to terrify anyone into silence. Instead, she channeled her anxiety into the pretzels she carried in case the dogs showed up by stuffing handfuls of the twists into her mouth. Roden was thankful. Earlier, he had been almost sure she would remark and complain the entire way, destroying any hope of creeping up on the enemy. Eating through her fear might not be a sound coping mechanism, but they could deal with that issue at a later time.

After what must have been at least three uneasy hours, they reached the high fence that Martin had described. It was turning late in the day now, and the sun had started sinking behind the trees, casting long shadows throughout the forest. The lights from the house in the distance shed an unnatural glow to the surrounding wilderness, and the bars of the fence imparted a cold and towering menace that would be enough to deter a less desperate group of trespassers.