Chapter 17. Crocodiles

**Rae**

A low rumble pulls me out of the blackness.

At first, I think I’m dreaming.

Another nightmare stitched from fear and exhaustion.

But the sound grows louder.

Real.

Closer.

My heart jerks awake before my body does.

I lift my head, the world tilting sideways, and blink into the distance.

A car.

Big.

Military type, but black instead of camo.

Not good.

Not good at all.

Beside me, Eliza is curled up on the seat, her face pale and slack with sleep.

I reach over, tapping her shoulder.

“Eliza,” I whisper. “Wake up.”

She stirs, confused, mumbling something.

I tap her harder.

“Eliza. Wake up.”

Her eyes snap open.

It takes her a few seconds to catch up to what’s happening—the sound, the car, the danger.

When she does, she gasps and grabs my wrist.

“What do we do? Rae, what do we do?”

Her voice is thin. Cracked.

She