Chapter 39: The Chase Begins

 

The escape doesn’t go unnoticed. The traffickers realise Thando is gone, and they waste no time setting out after her. Marco and Thando are forced into a life on the run, constantly moving, never staying in one place for too long. Their every move is tracked, and Thando begins to understand just how deeply entrenched the network is. Every safe house, every hiding spot feels temporary, as if the walls themselves are closing in. They live in constant fear, but Marco’s determination to protect her never wavers. The stakes are higher than ever, and each passing day feels like a new battle. Their first stop is a remote lodge deep in the countryside. Marco believes they’ll be safe there for at least a few days. The silence of the wilderness is a stark contrast to the chaos they left behind. Thando tries to find peace in the stillness, but the unease never leaves her. At night, she lies awake, listening for any unusual sounds, her body always on edge. On the third day, Marco spots a black SUV parked at a distance. It doesn’t belong to the lodge. His instincts scream danger. Without wasting a second, he grabs their bags and rushes to Thando.

Marco: “They’ve found us. We need to go. Now.”

Thando doesn’t ask questions. She follows him to the car, her hands trembling as she buckles herself in. Marco speeds off, taking back roads, his grip tight on the steering wheel. They drive for hours, changing directions, doubling back, trying to shake off any possible tail. But the nagging fear lingers how did they find them so fast?

Their next stop is a small coastal town, a place Marco had once used as a hideout years ago. The guesthouse owner is an old friend, someone Marco trusts. For a while, it feels like they might finally be safe. They blend in with the locals, keeping a low profile. 

Thando begins to hope that maybe, just maybe, they can stay here long enough to figure out their next move. But hope is short-lived.

One evening, as they walk back to the guesthouse from the market, Thando notices a man standing near a streetlamp, his eyes fixed on them. She grabs Marco’s hand, her heart pounding.

Thando:  “I think we’re being watched.” 

she whispers. Marco doesn’t turn his head, but his entire body tenses. 

Marco: “Inside. Now.” 

They rush back, locking the doors and switching off the lights. Marco pulls out a gun, his face unreadable. He peeks through the curtains, watching the street. Minutes pass. The man doesn’t move. Then, a second figure joins him, speaking into a phone.

Marco: “They’re coordinating, we have to go. Again.”

Marco mutters. Packing quickly becomes second nature to Thando. She no longer hesitates, no longer questions. Their lives depend on how fast they can disappear. Within minutes, they slip out through the back alley, leaving everything behind once more.

The pattern continues every place they stop at, the traffickers find them. It’s as if they can predict their every move. Fear turns into exhaustion. Thando’s body aches from the constant travel, her mind frayed by the anxiety of being hunted. Marco rarely sleeps, his paranoia growing with each passing day.

One night, as they rest in a run-down motel on the outskirts of another unfamiliar town, Marco sits at the edge of the bed, rubbing his face.

Marco: “This isn’t working, they’re always one step ahead.”

He murmurs. Thando sits beside him, wrapping her arms around herself. 

Thando: “How are they finding us?” 

Marco doesn’t answer immediately. Then, as if a thought suddenly clicks into place, his eyes widen.