Chapter 4 — Journey Into the Unknown

Mike

The SUV rumbled along the cracked asphalt road, its tires kicking up a faint trail of dust that swirled lazily in the rearview mirror. Mike Lawson’s hands gripped the steering wheel with the no-nonsense precision of someone who had driven hundreds of miles before. The rhythmic thrum of the vehicle was steady, almost hypnotic, but his focus was razor-sharp. His eyes flicked up to the rearview mirror, where Josh’s shaggy blond hair and boyish grin were visible as he leaned forward between the front seats, animated as always.