The criminal lunged to grab Marcus’s leg, fingers closing around his ankle. Adrenaline surged, sending a jolt of panic through Marcus’s body. He kicked violently, shoe slipping free of the man’s grip. Heart in his throat, he twisted away, fighting the swamp’s pull, and launched into a desperate sprint.
Everything blurred in the dim light, reeds whipping his face. Marcus ran until his chest burned and each breath turned ragged. His mind reeled: he’d left Luna behind with these ruthless strangers. But he knew, with chilling certainty, that if he didn’t bring help, neither of them stood a chance.