Chapter 8 - The Escape Route**
The basement was cold and smelled of damp earth and old cedar storage chests.
Ethan carried Maya through the narrow utility corridor that led to the attached rear garage.
"Daddy, are the bad people coming?" Maya whispered, her eyes wide as she clutched her stuffed bunny.
"Nobody is taking you from me, Maya," Ethan promised, kissing her forehead as he loaded her into the back of his grey truck.
He started the engine quietly, keeping the headlights off to avoid drawing attention from the front driveway.
He hit the manual garage door release, hitting the accelerator the second the door cleared the truck's roof.
The tires squealed against the wet pavement as the truck burst into the rear alleyway, dodging a parked police cruiser.
In his rearview mirror, Ethan saw red and blue lights flash to life as the officers realized he was fleeing the scene.
He slammed his foot down on the gas pedal, melting into the blinding rain of the interstate highway.
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They were officially fugitives in the eyes of Ohio law, with less than twelve hours before a statewide Amber Alert was issued.
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