Reyes pushed the bar down slowly, avoiding any loud clicks.

A blast of freezing air and swirling snow hit us immediately.

The storm had grown worse, the white flakes falling so thick I could barely see the outlines of the military vehicles parked twenty yards away.

“My car is in the gravel lot behind the motor pool,” Reyes said, squinting through the snow.

“Let’s move,” Jake said.

We stepped out into the bitter cold, the wind instantly freezing the moisture on our faces.

Jake shielded Owen with his body, tucking his heavy coat around our baby’s head.

We hurried across the snow-covered gravel, our feet sinking into the drifts.

Reyes unlocked a dark grey SUV with his key fob, the headlights flashing twice through the gloom.

We scrambled inside, the interior of the vehicle smelling of cold vinyl and pine air freshener.

Reyes started the engine, the motor turning over with a loud roar before settling into a steady idle.

“Don’t turn on the lights yet,” Jake said, leaning forward from the backseat.

“Right,” Reyes said, shifting into gear.