The Ultimate Return of Carlos

50

The trees whipped by as they hurried down the narrow, winding path, their boots crunching against the dirt with every step. The sun had climbed a little higher, casting long shadows across the ground, but the quiet of the woods remained unsettling. Carlos could still feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. His mind was running a marathon, filled with thoughts of how he would explain his absence, how he would make up for the lost time, and most importantly, how he would keep his life from spiraling any further out of control.

"Hey, we better pick up the pace," Toby urged, glancing back at Carlos. "The nearest station isn’t exactly around the corner, and you’re cutting it real close."

Carlos glanced at his watch again, gritting his teeth. "I know, man. But running? After all that? My legs feel like bricks."

Toby stopped walking, turning back to face him. "Do you want to make it back or not? We can either keep up this pace and you risk losing your job, or we hustle and at least ha