The morning light filtered through the windows of the small inn, painting the wooden walls with streaks of soft gold. Alex stretched lazily in his chair, still half-asleep from the previous day's exertions. Ethan, as usual, was already wolfing down breakfast, a plate of eggs and bread barely standing a chance.
"Could you slow down?" Alex muttered, smirking. "You're eating like it's your last meal."
Ethan grinned, crumbs decorating his face. "You never know. With the way our luck's been, it just might be."
Before Alex could retort, a loud knock at the door broke the comfortable silence. Both of them froze, exchanging a wary glance.
"Expecting someone?" Ethan asked, his tone suddenly serious.
"Nope," Alex replied, already rising from his seat. He walked cautiously to the door and cracked it open, his grip tightening instinctively around the handle.
To his surprise, it was Jake.
The younger boy stood there, his face pale and drenched in sweat. His usually cheerful demeanor was replaced with an expression of fear and desperation. He looked like he had run all night to get here.
"Jake? What's going on?" Alex asked, pulling the door wide open.
Jake stepped inside, glancing nervously over his shoulder before speaking, he stammered, his voice trembling. "They... they're after me."
Ethan stood, his fork clattering onto his plate. "Who's after you? Start from the beginning."
Jake swallowed hard, his hands shaking as he gripped the back of a chair. "Mercenaries," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "They showed up at my house yesterday. Said they've been watching me, watching us, and they know I've been training to become a strong adventurer."
Alex frowned, motioning for Jake to sit. "What do they want with you?"
"They said I need to stop adventuring. They want me to join their group—by force if necessary," Jake explained, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I tried to refuse, but they threatened my family. They said if I don't work for them, they'll make sure I can't ever hold a sword again."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Bastards," he muttered, his fists clenching. "Do you know who they are? What group they're with?"
Jake shook his head. "No, they didn't say much, just that they'd be back in two days for my answer. But I could tell—they're dangerous. I've seen them around the village before, intimidating others."
Alex leaned back, his mind racing. "And you think they'll come after you here?"
Jake hesitated, then nodded. "I don't know. Maybe. I had to leave before they could find me at home. I thought... I thought maybe you two could help."
Ethan glanced at Alex, his eyes flashing with determination. "Of course we'll help," he said firmly, leaving no room for doubt. "You're one of us, Jake. No way we're letting these thugs push you around."
Jake looked at Ethan, his eyes wide with a mix of relief and uncertainty. "But these aren't just some bullies. They're trained fighters, mercenaries. I don't want to put you in danger."
Alex placed a reassuring hand on Jake's shoulder. "We've faced worse, trust me. If these mercenaries want a fight, they'll get one. But first, we need to figure out who they are and what they really want."
Ethan nodded, his expression hardening. "And if they're threatening your family, we'll make sure they regret it."
Jake's eyes filled with gratitude, though a shadow of worry lingered in his gaze. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I didn't know who else to turn to."
Alex smiled faintly. "You're not alone, Jake. We've got your back."
The room fell silent after Jake's revelation, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. Ethan was the first to break it, slamming his fist into his open palm with a loud clap. "Alright, here's what we do," he said, leaning forward with a determined gleam in his eye. "We go to your house and stay hidden. When those mercenaries show up, we jump them and teach them a lesson they won't forget."
Jake's eyes widened in alarm. "You can't!" he protested, shaking his head vehemently. "There's no telling how strong they are, or how many. What if something goes wrong?"
Ethan waved off his concerns. "Something always goes wrong, Jake. That's life. But it's better than sitting here waiting for them to come after you or your family. We'll catch them off guard, and they won't know what hit them."
Alex, who had been quietly thinking, finally spoke up, his tone calm but measured. "That's one way to handle it, but it's risky. If these mercenaries are as organized as Jake says, they won't come alone, and they'll probably expect resistance. We can't afford to be reckless."
Ethan frowned. "So what's your idea, then?"
Alex leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he laid out his plan. "We let them come to Jake's house, just like they're expecting. But instead of fighting, Jake goes with them."
"What?!" Ethan and Jake exclaimed in unison, their voices overlapping in disbelief.
"Wait," Alex said, raising a hand to calm them. "Hear me out. Jake goes with them, but not for real. We'll follow them, keeping a safe distance, until we know where their base is or what their next move will be. Once we have that information, we'll figure out how to deal with them. This way, we're not walking into a fight blind."
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "You're asking him to walk into a trap."
"No," Alex replied firmly. "I'm asking him to bait the trap so we can spring it. It's a calculated risk, but it's the best chance we have of ending this without getting overwhelmed."
Jake shook his head, his voice shaky. "But what if they figure out what we're doing? What if I can't get away?"
Alex met Jake's gaze, his expression serious. "You won't be alone. We'll be right behind you, every step of the way. If anything feels off, you just give the signal, and we'll intervene. But we have to find out what these mercenaries are after, or this won't stop."
Ethan crossed his arms, clearly unhappy with the plan. "And what if we lose track of them? Or worse, what if Jake gets hurt because we're too far to help?"
Alex hesitated for a moment before answering. "I won't let that happen," he said quietly but with conviction. "I promise. We'll stick close enough to step in if things go south."
Jake looked between the two of them, his fear warring with the trust he felt for his friends. "I don't know," he said hesitantly. "It sounds dangerous."
Ethan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Everything about this is dangerous, Jake. But Alex has a point. If we take them out at your house, more might show up later. If we can figure out who's pulling the strings, we have a chance to stop this for good."
Jake swallowed hard, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of the table. Finally, he nodded. "Okay," he said, his voice trembling. "I'll do it. But you have to promise you'll be there."
Alex placed a hand on Jake's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll be there," he said firmly. "You're not alone in this."
Ethan leaned back with a resigned sigh. "Fine. We'll do it your way, Alex. But I still think my plan would've been more satisfying."
Alex smirked. "I'm sure you do. Now let's get moving. We've got a lot to prepare, and we don't have much time."
With their plan decided, the trio packed up quickly and left the inn, making their way to Jake's house on the outskirts of the village. The sun was high in the sky by the time they arrived, casting long shadows over the quiet home. Jake's family was safely hidden away, having left early that morning, but the tension in the air was palpable.
Alex and Ethan set up a concealed vantage point near the house, carefully positioning themselves where they could see everything without being seen. Jake, meanwhile, tried to steady his nerves as he prepared for what lay ahead.
As the hours passed and the sun began to dip lower in the sky, Alex's mind raced with possibilities. He knew the stakes were high, but he also knew that he could go back in time if the worst conditions were met.