THE HERO

"Dammit," he muttered, feeling angry at himself for not being able to help Ashley. "What's wrong with you, Ashley?" he said, more to himself than to her. "Why did you have to get mixed up in all this?"

He leaned back against the seat, staring out the window at the passing scenery. They were driving past a dense forest, the trees casting long shadows across the road. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to Ashley, his voice barely audible. "I'm sorry, I promise to take you to the hospital even if it’s the last thing I do."

As the car hurtled down the road, Xander realized he had no idea where they were headed. He had put his trust in the driver, a man he barely knew, and now he regretted it. He needed to come up with a plan, and fast.

"Hey," he said, turning to the driver. "Where are we going, exactly?"

The man glanced back at him, his eyes dark and inscrutable. "You don't need to know that," he said, his voice cold and distant.

Xander grit