The footsteps echoed closer, heavy and deliberate. Serena's heart raced as she gripped the bags containing the *Sangreal* and the *Crux Ignis*. They had the artifacts, but now they had to get out before the Covenant's guards discovered them. Every instinct in her body screamed that time was running out.
"Move!" Serena whispered, urgency sharpening her voice as she turned toward the door. Rebecca was already crouched by the entrance, her eyes wide with panic but her body steady, ready to follow Serena's lead. They couldn't afford to hesitate now.
As they slipped out of the vault, Serena quickly pulled the door shut behind them, hoping it would buy them a few extra moments. But the footsteps were too close, and they had no time to retrace their careful path back through the compound. They needed another way out.
"This way!" Rebecca hissed, pointing toward a narrow side hallway Serena hadn't noticed before. It led deeper into the compound, but it looked like it might give them some cover to avoid the guards.
Serena didn't argue. They darted down the hallway, keeping low to avoid detection as the footsteps rounded the corner behind them. They moved fast, their breaths shallow as they navigated the maze of stone corridors. Serena's mind raced, calculating their next move.
"They'll check the vault soon," Rebecca whispered as they pressed themselves against a wall, pausing for a moment to catch their breath.
"Once they see the artifacts are gone, they'll lock down the entire compound."
Serena nodded, scanning the hallway ahead of them.
"We need to be out of here before that happens. There has to be another exit."
Rebecca glanced at the map Jonas had given them.
"According to this, there's an emergency exit on the far side of the compound, near the east wing. It's supposed to be less secure—used only in case of emergencies."
Serena's pulse quickened. "That's our way out. Let's move."
They pushed forward, their movements swift and calculated as they darted through the winding corridors. The tension in the air was thick, every sound amplified in Serena's ears. The further they went, the more the walls seemed to close in around them. They could feel the weight of the Covenant's presence everywhere, like invisible eyes watching their every step.
As they neared the east wing, Serena noticed the corridor widening, opening up into a larger space that seemed to serve as a gathering area for Covenant members. Her heart sank as she realized it was more exposed than the narrow hallways they had been navigating. Any wrong move here could get them caught.
"We need to stay low," Serena whispered, her voice barely audible.
"If we cross here, we're going to be in plain sight."
Rebecca nodded, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement.
"We'll make it quick. There's no other option."
They crouched low and moved as quickly as they could across the open area. Serena's heart pounded in her chest, her senses heightened as she listened for any sign that they had been spotted. The large room was eerily silent, but that only made Serena more nervous.
Just as they reached the far side of the room, the sound of voices echoed down the corridor they had just come from. Serena froze, her heart leaping into her throat. They had been discovered.
"Go!" Serena urged, her voice barely above a whisper as she pushed Rebecca toward the emergency exit.
"We don't have time!"
Rebecca didn't need to be told twice. She darted toward the door, pulling out a small device from her bag to bypass the security lock. Serena kept her eyes on the corridor, her breath tight in her chest as the voices grew louder. The guards were coming.
"Almost there…" Rebecca muttered, her fingers moving quickly over the device.
Serena could hear the distinct sound of footsteps approaching fast. Her heart raced as she looked back at the door, willing it to open. They were too close.
"Got it!" Rebecca hissed, the door clicking open just as the guards rounded the corner.
Without waiting for the door to fully open, Serena grabbed Rebecca's arm and pulled her through, slamming the door shut behind them. They were outside, in the cold night air, but the compound was still looming behind them, and they could hear the alarm starting to blare from inside.
"They know we're here," Serena said, her voice tight as they sprinted toward the forest. "We have to disappear—now."
Rebecca glanced over her shoulder, her face pale but determined.
"We need to split up. If we stick together, we're easier to track. I'll loop around to the north and meet you at the rendezvous point."
Serena hesitated for a moment, the thought of splitting up making her stomach twist with fear. But Rebecca was right. They couldn't afford to be caught together. If one of them was captured, the other could still make it out with the artifacts.
"Fine," Serena agreed, her voice firm.
"But stay sharp. We meet in one hour."
With a quick nod, Rebecca veered off to the left, disappearing into the shadows of the trees. Serena turned and sprinted in the opposite direction, her feet pounding against the forest floor as she made her way toward the rendezvous point they had agreed on earlier. The forest was dark and thick, the branches overhead creating a canopy that blocked out most of the moonlight.
Serena's heart raced as she pushed forward, her senses on high alert. The sound of the alarm was fading in the distance, but she knew the Covenant wouldn't stop until they had tracked them down. They had stolen two of the most dangerous artifacts in existence, and the Covenant would hunt them to the ends of the earth to get them back.
As she moved deeper into the forest, Serena slowed her pace, listening for any sign that she was being followed. The silence of the woods was oppressive, every crack of a twig or rustle of leaves making her heart jump. She was trained for this—moving silently through dangerous territory—but tonight felt different. The stakes were higher, and the enemy they were facing was far more relentless than anything she had dealt with before.
Serena reached the clearing where she and Rebecca had planned to meet. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows on the ground. She crouched low behind a fallen log, her breath shallow as she scanned the area for any sign of movement.
Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity. Serena's mind raced, wondering if Rebecca had made it out, if she was safe, or if the Covenant had already captured her. But she couldn't let fear control her. She had to stay focused.
Suddenly, a soft rustling sound came from the edge of the clearing. Serena tensed, her hand moving to the weapon strapped to her belt. But then she saw Rebecca emerge from the shadows, moving quickly and quietly toward the rendezvous point.
Serena exhaled in relief, standing up from her hiding spot. "You made it."
Rebecca gave her a tight nod, her face still pale from the tension of their escape.
"Barely. They're on high alert now. We need to get as far away from here as possible."
Serena agreed, pulling out a small map from her bag.
"We'll head east, toward the river. There's a safehouse we can use until we figure out our next move."
As they started moving again, Serena couldn't shake the feeling of dread that clung to her. They had the artifacts, but the Covenant wasn't going to let them go so easily. They had made their escape, but the real fight was only just beginning.