Ilyas unlocked the side doors, allowing the group to scramble into the cold cabin. Connor climbed into the driver's seat and turned the key, causing the manual combustion engine to roar to life with a persistent rattle.
Leo spread the paper maps across his knees in the passenger seat, using a small flashlight to illuminate the hand-drawn routes. "The mountain pass is covered in snow, so we must drive cautiously to avoid the icy ledges."
Nelson settled into the rear bench beside Evan and Lucy, wrapping his coat tighter against the chill. "The dummy loops in our bedrooms will hold until morning, giving us enough time to reach our homes."
Connor shifted the truck into gear, steering the vehicle out of the pine grove and onto the slick mountain road. The headlights cut through the swirling snow, illuminating the steep concrete barriers of the New Appalachian Territory.
