The horizon stretched out endlessly in front of them, a long road winding toward new possibilities. As the car hummed steadily beneath them, Serena felt a renewed sense of energy coursing through her. She hadn't felt this way in a long time—not since before the chaos of the artifact had overtaken her life. But now, with the threat of Damon Hale behind them and a clear purpose ahead, the world seemed full of possibilities again.
"We're really doing this, aren't we?" Serena said, glancing over at Alexander as they sped down the highway. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden light across the landscape, making everything feel surreal.
Alexander nodded, his hands relaxed on the wheel, his eyes fixed on the road.
"Yeah, we are. I know it's not what we initially planned, but… it feels right, doesn't it?"
Serena smiled, turning her gaze back to the open road.
"It does. I didn't think I'd be ready for more after everything we've been through, but this feels different. We're choosing this, not reacting to it."
"That's the difference," Alexander agreed. "We're in control this time. No more running from danger—we're going to meet it head-on."
Serena leaned back in her seat, feeling the weight of their decision settle comfortably in her chest. They had come a long way from the frantic, fear-fueled decisions they'd made when Vanguard had been on their heels. Now, they were driving toward something with purpose, with a plan. And for the first time in what felt like forever, Serena was ready.
As the sun sank lower in the sky, the light shifting from gold to a soft pink hue, Serena's phone buzzed in her lap. She glanced down at the screen, seeing a message from Rebecca.
*Rebecca:* *Got some intel on a potential artifact. It's not confirmed, but rumors are swirling about something hidden in the Czech Republic. Could be worth looking into. Sending details.*
Serena's heart skipped a beat. The Czech Republic. They were only a few hours' drive from the border, and if there was even a chance that another artifact was out there, they couldn't afford to ignore it.
She read the message aloud to Alexander, and his expression shifted from relaxed to focused.
"Well, that didn't take long," he said with a chuckle.
"Looks like we've got our first lead."
"Yeah," Serena replied, excitement creeping into her voice.
"Rebecca's sending the details now."
A second message popped up with coordinates and a brief summary of what Rebecca had uncovered: local legends about a powerful relic hidden deep in the forests outside Prague. The exact nature of the artifact wasn't clear, but the stories hinted at something ancient—something that had been hidden away for centuries, much like the artifact they had just neutralized.
"There's always some truth in local legends," Alexander mused as he scanned the information.
"And even if it's just rumors, we should check it out. We can't risk missing something important."
Serena nodded, already pulling up a map on her phone to chart the quickest route to the area Rebecca had highlighted. "It looks like it's not too far from Prague," she said, showing him the screen.
"We could be there by morning if we keep driving."
"Then that's what we'll do," Alexander said with a determined nod.
"No time to waste."
With their new destination set, they drove on through the fading light, the excitement of their new mission buzzing between them. Serena felt the familiar thrill of the hunt starting to creep in, but this time, it was different. This wasn't about survival. This was about staying ahead, about preventing another disaster before it could begin.
As the night deepened, the road became quieter, the towns and cities they passed slowly fading into the distance. Eventually, the headlights illuminated the sign for a rest stop, and Alexander glanced at Serena. "We should probably get some sleep before we reach Prague," he said. "We'll need to be sharp tomorrow."
Serena agreed. They had been driving for hours, and despite the adrenaline keeping her going, she knew they would need to be rested if they were going to investigate properly. They pulled into the rest stop, a quiet, unassuming place with a small motel and a diner that was still open despite the late hour.
After checking in and grabbing a quick bite to eat, they headed to their room. The motel was nothing fancy—just a bed, a small table, and a window that looked out onto the parking lot—but it was enough. Serena sank onto the bed, exhausted but buzzing with anticipation for what lay ahead.
Alexander sat beside her, the two of them sharing a comfortable silence as they unwound from the day. Serena's thoughts drifted back to the information Rebecca had sent. Legends were often shrouded in mystery, but if there was any truth to the rumors, they could be looking at something just as powerful—if not more so—than the artifact they had just neutralized.
"What do you think this artifact could be?" she asked quietly, her voice cutting through the stillness.
Alexander shrugged, leaning back against the headboard. "It's hard to say. If it's anything like the last one, it could be ancient, maybe even tied to different cultures or histories. We'll have to dig around, see if we can get locals to talk. Sometimes, these stories are passed down through generations."
Serena nodded. "Yeah, we'll have to be careful, though. If there are rumors about it, that means we're not the only ones who know about it."
Alexander's expression darkened slightly. "That's true. If we've heard about it, others probably have too. But we'll be ready this time. We know what to look for."
Serena stretched out on the bed, feeling the fatigue from the drive begin to catch up with her. "We should get some sleep," she said, stifling a yawn. "Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
Alexander smiled, pulling the blankets over them both. "Agreed. We'll be in Prague before we know it."
The quiet of the night settled over them, and for a moment, Serena let herself sink into the warmth of the bed, the softness of the pillow beneath her head. It felt good to rest, to have a moment of calm before they plunged back into the unknown. But even in her exhaustion, she couldn't shake the excitement bubbling just beneath the surface. They had a new mission, and for the first time, they were heading into it on their own terms.
As she drifted off to sleep, Serena's thoughts lingered on what they might find in Prague. The stories of powerful relics, hidden for centuries, carried a weight that made her both anxious and eager. But whatever was waiting for them, she knew they were ready for it.
Together, they would face whatever came next.
And this time, they wouldn't be running.
This time, they were on the hunt.