Run!

Shit, thought Valerie. She would have liked to have a couple more minutes' head start run, but given the circumstances, she couldn't afford to complain. She dropped the box she was carrying, and took off in the direction of the trees.

She made it to cover just in time, as she heard a gunshot go off at a distance behind her. "Careful, you idiot!", she heard. "The boss wants her alive!" She didn't stop, continuing to run as fast as she could. She didn't have any idea of where she was going. Right now, the only thing that mattered was putting some distance between herself and her captors.

She heard a few sets of footsteps giving chase behind her. Based on her training, she guessed that they would try and spread out, intending to surround her and cut off all directions of escape.

After a while, she slowed down as she caught her breath. She wasn't exactly in peak condition due to her captivity. She willed herself to continue on, deciding to move quietly instead of quickly. Once she had some time to catch her breath, she would pick up the pace again.

A moment later, she heard a rustle of leaves behind her.