The river was just ahead, its soft murmuring breaking the silence of the forest. Serena and Rebecca trudged through the underbrush, their footsteps barely audible as they moved swiftly, aware that every second counted. The Covenant would be scouring the area soon, and the artifacts—wrapped carefully in their bags—seemed to hum with latent power, as if even they knew the tension of the situation.
"We need to keep moving," Serena whispered, her breath coming out in short bursts. The adrenaline from the heist still thrummed through her veins, but it was quickly being replaced by the fatigue of the night. "Once we reach the safehouse, we can figure out our next move."
Rebecca nodded, her face pale and streaked with dirt but determined. "I know. I just keep thinking about Alex. What if they've figured out we took the artifacts? What if they're using him to try to track us?"
Serena felt a pang in her chest at the thought of Alexander, still trapped in the Covenant's compound, probably being interrogated or worse. "We'll get him back," she said firmly, more to convince herself than Rebecca. "We have leverage now—the *Sangreal* and the *Crux Ignis*. The Covenant won't risk losing those artifacts forever. They'll want to negotiate."
Rebecca glanced sideways at her. "You really think they'll negotiate? They don't seem like the type to play fair."
Serena knew Rebecca was right. The Covenant was a shadowy, secretive organization that had its own agenda, one that clearly involved hoarding dangerous artifacts to manipulate global power. But she had to believe that there was a way to outmaneuver them. There had to be.
"We'll find a way," Serena said, her voice hardening with resolve. "But first, we need to get somewhere safe. The Covenant is going to hunt us down, and we need time to plan."
They continued in silence, the sound of the river growing louder as they neared the bank. The terrain was rough, but Serena knew the safehouse wasn't far now. It was an old cabin, tucked away from the world, a place that only a few trusted contacts knew about. The perfect hiding spot—for now.
When they finally reached the riverbank, Serena paused, scanning the area for any signs of pursuit. The forest behind them was still, save for the rustling of leaves in the breeze. It was quiet—too quiet. Her instincts were screaming that they weren't out of danger yet, but there was no sign of the Covenant's men. Not yet, at least.
"There it is," Rebecca said softly, pointing toward the cabin that sat nestled among the trees on the opposite bank. It was small, nondescript, and exactly the kind of place that could be overlooked by someone who wasn't actively searching for it.
Serena felt a brief flicker of relief. "Let's cross. Once we're inside, we'll lay low until we can figure out our next move."
They waded into the river, the cold water biting at their legs as they moved quickly toward the cabin. The sound of the water rushing around them filled Serena's ears, blocking out everything else for a moment. But as they neared the other side, her mind was already turning toward the next challenge—what came after they reached the cabin.
Would the Covenant be willing to negotiate for Alexander? Would they risk losing control of two of the most powerful artifacts in the world? Serena wasn't sure. But one thing was certain: they couldn't keep running forever. At some point, they would have to confront the Covenant head-on.
By the time they reached the cabin, the first light of dawn was beginning to creep through the trees. The shadows of the forest were lifting, but Serena felt no comfort in the growing daylight. If anything, it made her more uneasy. The cover of night had been their ally, but now the world would see them again. And so would their enemies.
Serena and Rebecca quickly slipped inside the cabin, closing the door behind them with a soft click. The interior was simple—bare wooden floors, a few pieces of worn furniture, and a small fireplace that looked like it hadn't been used in years. It was cold and musty, but it was safe.
For now.
Rebecca dropped her bag onto the floor and sank into one of the chairs, her exhaustion finally catching up with her. "We did it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We actually did it."
Serena leaned against the wall, feeling the weight of the night pressing down on her. "Yeah," she said quietly. "But it's not over yet. The Covenant won't let this go. We need to be ready for whatever comes next."
Rebecca nodded, though her eyes were half-closed with fatigue. "I know. But right now, we need to rest. We've been running all night, and we're not going to be any good to Alex or anyone else if we can't think straight."
Serena wanted to argue, to say that they didn't have time to rest, but she knew Rebecca was right. They had been running on adrenaline for hours, and they needed to recharge. The Covenant wasn't going to storm the cabin in the next few minutes. They had at least a little time.
"Fine," Serena said, pushing off the wall and moving toward the small kitchen area. "You rest. I'll keep watch for a bit."
Rebecca didn't argue. She was asleep in minutes, her head resting on the back of the chair, her breathing slow and steady. Serena watched her for a moment, feeling a surge of gratitude for her friend's loyalty and strength. They had been through so much together, and now they were closer than ever to the heart of the storm.
But the storm was still coming.
Serena sat by the window, her eyes scanning the tree line for any signs of movement. The forest was still, but she knew better than to trust the calm. The Covenant wouldn't stop until they had the artifacts back. And once they realized Serena and Rebecca had stolen them, they would come after them with everything they had.
She reached into her bag and pulled out the *Sangreal*, the blood-red gem pulsing faintly in the dim light. The power inside the artifact was almost tangible, like a living thing waiting to be unleashed. Serena had no idea what the *Sangreal* was truly capable of, but she knew one thing for sure: it was dangerous. Too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands.
And then there was the *Crux Ignis*. Serena hadn't unwrapped it yet, but she could feel its energy radiating from her bag. It wasn't as volatile as the *Sangreal*, but its power was undeniable. The thought of what the Covenant—or Adrian—could do with both artifacts made Serena's skin crawl.
She had to figure out a way to turn the tables. They needed a plan, something that would give them the upper hand against the Covenant. But first, they needed information. They needed to know exactly what they were up against.
Serena reached for her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen as she debated her next move. She had one more contact she hadn't reached out to yet, someone who might have the answers they needed.
It was risky. But at this point, everything was.
She dialed the number, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for the line to connect. After a few rings, a voice answered on the other end.
"Well, well," the voice said, low and smooth. "I didn't expect to hear from you so soon."
"Adrian," Serena said, her voice steady. "We need to talk."