The descent from the plateau was tense and hurried. Serena and Alexander had found the next piece of the map, but the looming sense of being pursued clung to them like a shadow. The air around them seemed colder, heavier, as though the mountain itself was warning them to leave before it was too late.
They retraced their steps along the narrow trail, their eyes scanning the dense trees that lined the path, alert for any sign of movement. Serena couldn't shake the feeling that Vanguard was closer than ever—that someone might be watching from the shadows. Every sound—a snapping branch, the rustle of leaves—sent her pulse racing.
After what felt like an eternity, they reached the small village where their car was parked. The quiet streets were still empty, the villagers going about their lives, unaware of the high-stakes chase unfolding in the mountains above. As they approached the car, Serena felt a momentary wave of relief. They had made it, for now.
Alexander quickly unlocked the car, and they climbed in, eager to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the mountain. The engine roared to life, and they sped down the narrow roads, the winding turns forcing Alexander to keep his focus sharp. Serena glanced back at the shrinking village and the peaks beyond, feeling a knot of tension in her stomach that refused to ease.
"We have the next piece," Serena said, her voice firm as if to reassure herself.
"But we're running out of time. If Vanguard knows what we've found—"
"They might already be on their way," Alexander finished, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel.
"We've got to stay ahead of them. This last fragment might lead us straight to the artifact."
Serena pulled the map fragment from her bag, carefully unfolding it on her lap. The parchment was fragile, but the details were clear. The new fragment fit perfectly with the others they had already collected, filling in more of the puzzle. But there was still one section missing—the final piece that would reveal the exact location of the artifact.
"There's something different about this part of the map," Serena murmured, running her fingers along the edges of the parchment.
"It's more detailed, like it's marking something specific."
Alexander glanced over briefly before returning his eyes to the road.
"It must be a clue. Maybe it's showing us where the final fragment is hidden."
Serena studied the map closely, her mind racing.
"Look here," she said, pointing to a symbol that looked like a crescent moon, etched into the corner of the map. "This wasn't on the other fragments."
Alexander frowned.
"A crescent moon… that could mean something. But we'll need more information."
As they drove, Serena's phone buzzed. She checked the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw it was a message from Rebecca Sterling, who had stayed behind in France to continue monitoring any Vanguard activity.
Rebecca: I've picked up chatter. Vanguard's people are on the move—they're looking for you. You need to be careful. They're closing in.
Serena's heart raced as she showed the message to Alexander. "They know," she said, her voice tight with urgency.
"Vanguard is right behind us."
Alexander's jaw tightened. "Then we don't have much time. We need to get to the final fragment before they do."
Serena nodded, quickly typing a response to Rebecca.
Serena: We've got the next piece. Can you look into the crescent moon symbol we found on the map? We need to figure out where it leads.
Rebecca's response came quickly.
Rebecca: I'll get on it. Keep moving—don't let them catch up.
Serena tucked the phone away and turned her focus back to the map. The crescent moon symbol nagged at her, as if it were the key to unlocking everything, but its meaning eluded her.
"We need to get somewhere safe," Serena said, glancing out the window as they left the mountains behind and entered a more populated area. "Someplace where we can regroup and figure out our next move without being tracked."
"I know just the place," Alexander replied. "We'll head to a small estate my family used to own near Carcassonne. It's off the grid, and no one outside the family knows about it. We can hide out there while we figure this out."
The drive to Carcassonne was long, and as the hours passed, Serena couldn't shake the feeling that Vanguard was breathing down their necks. Every car that appeared in their rearview mirror made her heart race, and every time they turned onto a new road, she half-expected to see someone waiting for them.
As dusk settled over the landscape, they finally arrived at the estate. It was a secluded property, surrounded by dense trees and rolling fields. The house itself was modest compared to the grand estates they had visited before, but it was hidden, and that was all that mattered now.
"We should be safe here," Alexander said as they parked the car and unloaded their bags.
"At least for the night."
They entered the house, which had clearly not been used in years, but it was clean and well-maintained. Alexander quickly secured the doors and windows, while Serena spread the map fragments out on the large wooden table in the center of the room.
"We're close," Serena said, her fingers tracing the lines of the map.
"We just need to figure out where this last fragment is—and then we'll have everything we need to find the artifact."
Alexander joined her at the table, his eyes scanning the map.
"If Vanguard is as close as Rebecca says, they could be piecing it together too. We have to be one step ahead of them."
Serena nodded, but her mind was still on the crescent moon symbol. There was something familiar about it, something she had seen before. But where?
Suddenly, her phone buzzed again—it was another message from Rebecca.
Rebecca: I've found something. The crescent moon symbol matches an ancient family crest—a family tied to both yours and the Montgomerys. The Laurent family. Their last known residence was a chateau near Toulouse.
Serena's pulse quickened as she read the message. "The Laurents," she said aloud.
"That's where the final fragment is. They were part of the original alliance too."
Alexander's eyes widened. "Then that's our next destination."
Serena nodded, already gathering the map fragments and tucking them safely into her bag.
"We need to leave first thing in the morning."
But even as they prepared for what lay ahead, Serena couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out. Vanguard was closing in, and the final confrontation was just around the corner.
The crescent moon had led them to their next clue, but Serena knew that finding the final map fragment would be only the beginning. The true challenge was still ahead—uncovering the artifact's location before Vanguard could, and protecting the legacy that had been entrusted to them.
The race was almost at an end, but the stakes had never been higher.