Chapter 7

Long before dawn broke the next morning, the entire town was already in motion.

Tom's threats lingered in the air like a whip, cracking at everyone's heels, driving them forward with a relentless urgency.

Everyone held their breath, gritting their teeth.

Speed had become the only weapon we had to win.

The weather was deteriorating rapidly.

Gray clouds pressed down low, heavy enough to crush the earth.

The wind sliced across our faces like a blade.

Snowflakes started drifting down, at first just a few, but soon they were coming down thick and fast.

The temperature was plummeting, yet the…