Hiroshi climbed out of the pool and looked around properly for the first time.
Trees surrounded them. Dense forest with thick underbrush. The sunlight filtering through the canopy. But something felt wrong. He couldn't name it yet but the feeling sat in his gut.
Elias emerged from the pool carrying the injured guard over his shoulder.
Water streamed off both of them as he climbed onto the bank.
"Had to go back for him," Elias said, breathing hard. "Getting him down that rock wasn't easy."
He lowered the unconscious man carefully onto the ground and checked his pulse.
Baros came through next, stumbling out of the water and collapsing on the ground. "We made it. We're out."
The woman guard stood at the edge of the clearing, staring into the forest. Her hand rested on the knife at her belt. "Which direction?"
Good question. Hiroshi looked around for landmarks. Anything to indicate where they were or which way led back to civilization.
