CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT - A Desperate Fight

As the door slammed shut behind him, Mason turned to Claire. "I think I have an idea," he whispered urgently. "But it's risky, and we'll only have one shot at it." Claire nodded, her face set with determination. "Whatever it is, I'm in. We can't stay here." Mason quickly outlined his plan. They would wait until the early morning hours when the camp was at its quietest. Using a shard of metal Mason had managed to pry loose from the shack's wall, they would cut their bonds. Then, they would make a break for it, heading for the coast where they hoped to find a boat or some way to signal for help. "It's not much of a plan," Claire said with a weak smile. "But it's better than waiting around to be killed." The hours crawled by with agonizing slowness. Every sound outside their prison made them tense, fearing discovery. Mason worked tirelessly at their bonds, the rough metal digging into his wrists as he sawed at the ropes. Finally, as the first hints of dawn began to lighten the sky, M