Jack Bennett scanned the treeline, his eyes sharp and focused, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins from the shot he'd just fired. The man lay motionless on the ground, his lifeless eyes staring up at the sky. Jack didn't need to check; his aim was always precise. But he couldn't afford to relax yet. There could be more of them.
He stepped forward, keeping his gun trained on the jungle as he approached Sophie. She was still on the ground, staring at him in shock. The ancient box lay between them, almost forgotten in the moment.
"Sophie Alden?" he asked, his voice low but steady.
She nodded, her eyes wide as she took in the tall, broad-shouldered man before her. He was rugged, with a strong jawline covered in a few days' worth of stubble, and eyes that held the weight of a man who'd seen too much. His dark hair was cropped close, and he moved with the controlled grace of someone trained for combat.
"I'm Jack Bennett," he continued, holstering his gun but keeping his hand close. "I'm here to protect you."
"Protect me?" Sophie echoed, still trying to process what had just happened. "Who sent you?"
Jack glanced around again, his instincts on high alert. The jungle was silent, but that didn't mean they were alone. He extended a hand to help her up. "We need to get out of here first. I'll explain everything once we're safe."
Sophie hesitated for a moment before taking his hand. His grip was strong and steady, and he pulled her to her feet with ease. She glanced down at the man lying dead on the ground, a shiver running through her. "Who was he?"
"Not someone you want to meet again," Jack said grimly. He picked up the box, examining it briefly before handing it to Sophie. "This is what they're after, isn't it?"
Sophie nodded, her mind racing. She didn't know who this Jack Bennett was or who had sent him, but she knew one thing for sure—if he hadn't shown up when he did, she'd be dead, and the artifact would be lost.
"We need to move," Jack said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "There could be more of them."
Sophie didn't argue. She followed him as he led the way back through the jungle, his movements quick and deliberate. She struggled to keep up, but Jack seemed to know exactly where he was going. He was a man on a mission, and that mission was to keep her alive.
They reached a small clearing where a helicopter was waiting, its rotors slowly turning. Jack led her to it, opening the door and helping her inside before climbing in after her. The pilot, a woman with sharp features and a no-nonsense attitude, nodded at Jack as he signaled for takeoff.
"Who are you?" Sophie asked again as the helicopter lifted off, the ground dropping away beneath them. "And who sent you?"
Jack turned to her, his expression softening slightly. "I'm with a private security firm. We were hired to protect you after word got out that you were close to finding something... significant."
Sophie's mind raced. She had kept her research as secret as possible, but it seemed someone had been watching her. "Who hired you?"
"Anonymous client," Jack said, his tone making it clear he didn't have more information. "All I know is that they were willing to pay a lot of money to keep you safe."
Sophie looked at him, trying to gauge his intentions. "And what about you? Why take this job?"
Jack hesitated for a moment, his eyes distant. "Let's just say I have a thing for protecting people who need it." His voice carried a weight of personal history, but Sophie could tell he wasn't ready to share that part of himself yet.
They flew in silence for a while, the jungle stretching out beneath them, vast and endless. Sophie clutched the box tightly, her mind racing with questions. Who was behind this? What did they want with the artifact? And how was she supposed to protect something so powerful when she barely understood it herself?
As if sensing her thoughts, Jack spoke again. "Whatever this thing is, it's more dangerous than you realize. That man back there was just the beginning. There are people who will stop at nothing to get their hands on it."
Sophie nodded, a sense of dread settling in her chest. She had spent her life chasing history, uncovering the secrets of the past. But now, the past was chasing her, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for what it would reveal.
"Where are we going?" she asked, needing to focus on something tangible.
"There's a safe house a few hours from here," Jack replied. "We'll lay low there for a bit, regroup, and figure out our next move."
Sophie glanced out the window, the jungle a blur beneath them. She had no idea what the future held, but one thing was certain: her life had just been irrevocably changed, and there was no going back.