A set of headlights was gaining on us rapidly, much faster than the SUVs.

The blue and red lights of a police vehicle began to flash through the rain.

But it wasn’t the state police.

The vehicle was a black sedan with a single blue strobe light on the dashboard.

“They have the local police on the payroll too,” Matteo muttered.

He accelerated, the car sliding slightly on a patch of mud.

The road began to climb, winding into the dark hills.

The rain turned to sleet, hitting the cracked windshield with a sharp, tapping sound.

“We need to get off the main road,” Matteo said.

He turned the wheel sharply to the right, taking a narrow, unpaved track that led into the forest.

The branches of the trees scraped against the sides of the car like fingernails.

The headlights behind us followed, the blue light flashing through the thick wet leaves.

Suddenly, the engine sputtered.

A plume of white steam began to rise from the crumpled hood of our car.

“The radiator,” Matteo cursed.

The car began to lose speed, the engine groaning as we climbed the muddy incline.