43. The Search: Part 4

Esther's fingers tightened around the worn handle of her army knife as she exchanged a glance with Spencer. The near-empty magazine was a stark reminder that bullets wouldn't save them this time. "We're going old school, huh?" she spoke, a mixture of determination and humor in her voice.

Spencer mirrored her resolve, pulling out his own knife. "No better way to go out than swinging," he replied, a smile playing on his lips. The realization of their dire situation hung in the air.

"It's funny how the hunters quickly became the hunted," Esther mused, her eyes flickering with a mix of irony and acceptance. Spencer nodded, acknowledging the twist of fate that brought them to this moment. "Maybe it's karma for deciding to kill our own friend to save ourselves," he added, the weight of their past decisions lingering in the conversation.

There was a brief pause, a shared understanding passing between them. Spencer took a breath, about to express something, "Hey, Esther..."

She cut him off ge