Chapter 71: The Race for Survival

The roar of the snowmobiles tore through the freezing Arctic air as Ava, Lucas, and Callum sped across the vast, icy landscape. The cold wind whipped harshly against their faces, but the real danger wasn’t the bitter temperature—Meridian’s forces were closing in on them from behind. Ava’s heart pounded as she glanced over her shoulder, spotting the drones overhead. Small, sleek, and deadly, they followed their every move, their mechanical hum a constant reminder that they were being tracked. Every second counted now. They had the second encryption code, but getting out alive was another matter. “Jess, what’s the status of the extraction?” Ava shouted into her comms, her voice barely audible over the roar of the snowmobile’s engine. “Extraction team’s almost at the clearing,” Jess replied, her voice tense. “But Meridian’s ground forces are closing in fast. You’ve got minutes before they catch up.” Ava gritted her teeth, pushing the snowmobile faster across the uneven snow. The lands