Serena's pulse pounded in her ears as the treeline thickened behind them. They were far enough from the Covenant compound now that the sounds of alarms and shouting had faded, but the danger still clung to them like a shadow. Every step was a reminder that they were far from safe.
The forest stretched on, dense and dark, the trees towering over them like silent sentinels. Serena's legs burned from the effort of half-carrying Alex, who staggered beside her, barely able to keep his feet under him. Rebecca was ahead, her eyes scanning the surroundings as they approached the car they had stashed at the edge of the woods.
"We're almost there," Serena muttered, more to herself than anyone else. She could feel the weight of the Sangreal and Crux Ignis in her pack, their presence a constant reminder of the forces they were up against. With Alex rescued, they had bought themselves a small victory, but the Covenant would stop at nothing to get the artifacts back.
As they broke through the final line of trees, Serena spotted their car hidden under a layer of camouflaging branches. Relief surged through her, but it was short-lived. Her instincts screamed that they couldn't let their guard down, not yet.
Rebecca quickly uncovered the car, throwing the branches aside and opening the doors. "We need to move," she said urgently, glancing over her shoulder. "The Covenant will send patrols after us. They'll have a perimeter up soon."
Serena helped Alex into the back seat, where he slumped down with a groan, his face pale and drenched in sweat. The bruises on his face and arms told a story of torture and confinement, but even in his weakened state, his eyes still burned with determination.
"Thanks for the rescue," Alex rasped, his voice strained but steady. "I wasn't sure I was getting out of there."
Serena gave him a tight smile as she slid into the driver's seat. "We weren't leaving without you."
Rebecca climbed into the passenger seat, her fingers flying over her phone's screen as she checked their location. "I've got a safehouse marked a few hours from here. It's remote—no one will find us there."
Serena nodded, starting the engine. "Let's hope we have a few hours."
She pulled the car onto the narrow dirt road that led away from the forest, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as they sped into the fading daylight. The tension in the air was palpable, and Serena could feel the weight of what they had just done hanging over them like a dark cloud. The Covenant wouldn't let this go. They had stolen two of the most powerful artifacts in the world, and they had humiliated Kieran in the process.
They were marked now. No matter how far they ran, the Covenant would find them.
Rebecca glanced at Serena, her expression serious. "We need to figure out our next move. Getting Alex out was the first step, but now we're sitting on two ticking time bombs. The Sangreal and the Crux Ignis—there's no way we can keep them hidden forever."
"I know," Serena replied, her voice tense. "But we need time to regroup. We're not going to make any decisions while we're running for our lives."
In the back seat, Alex shifted, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "What about Adrian?" he asked, his voice hoarse. "You made a deal with him, didn't you?"
Serena's stomach twisted at the mention of Adrian. "Yeah, we made a deal. He helped us get the intel to break you out, but we still owe him. And you know what that means."
Alex chuckled darkly, though the sound was pained. "It means he's going to want the artifacts. And he's not the type to take no for an answer."
Rebecca turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. "Adrian's not getting his hands on the Sangreal or the Crux Ignis. We need to figure out how to keep them safe—away from the Covenant, away from Adrian, away from anyone who would use them."
"That's the problem," Alex muttered, wincing as he shifted in his seat. "Everyone wants to use them. That's why these things can't be hidden forever. They're magnets for power-hungry lunatics."
Serena's grip on the wheel tightened. He was right. The artifacts were too powerful to hide, and too dangerous to be used. But what could they do? Destroying them was impossible—at least, as far as Serena knew. The Sangreal and the Crux Ignis were tied to forces far beyond their understanding, forces that could reshape the world if unleashed.
"We'll figure something out," Serena said, though the words felt hollow. "We always do."
The car sped down the dirt road, kicking up dust as they drove deeper into the wilderness. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the landscape, but Serena couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time. The Covenant wasn't their only problem now. Adrian was a snake, and his interest in the artifacts had always been dangerous. And then there were the mysterious forces he had hinted at—other players in the game, ones who didn't negotiate.
Serena's mind raced as they drove in silence, the weight of their situation pressing down on her. They needed a plan, something that would keep the artifacts out of the hands of both the Covenant and Adrian. But what could they do? Every option seemed more dangerous than the last.
After what felt like hours, they finally reached the safehouse—an old, abandoned cabin nestled in the mountains. It was remote, surrounded by thick woods and far from any major roads. The perfect place to lie low, at least for a little while.
Serena parked the car and helped Alex out, supporting him as they made their way inside. The cabin was small, with just enough space for the three of them to hide. It wasn't much, but it was safe.
For now.
Once inside, Serena set Alex down on the worn couch and checked his injuries. He was bruised and battered, but nothing appeared to be broken. Still, he needed rest, and there wasn't much they could do for him until they were in a safer position.
Rebecca started setting up their security measures, placing small motion detectors and trip alarms around the perimeter of the cabin. They needed to know if anyone came within a mile of their hiding spot. As she worked, she glanced over at Serena, her expression grim.
"What do we do now?" she asked quietly. "We've bought ourselves some time, but not much."
Serena stared at the map they had spread out on the table, her mind racing with possibilities. They were out of immediate danger, but they couldn't stay hidden forever. The Covenant was relentless, and Adrian was waiting for his payment. And those other forces Adrian had warned them about… they were still out there, lurking in the shadows.
"We need a plan," Serena said, her voice steady. "We need to decide what to do with the artifacts, how to protect them."
Alex shifted on the couch, his eyes half-closed but still sharp. "We need more than that. We need to make sure no one can use them—ever."
Serena nodded slowly, her mind working through the possibilities. "We're going to need help. We can't do this alone."
Rebecca's eyes met hers, filled with the same determination Serena felt.
"Then let's figure out who we can trust," Serena said, her voice hard. "And let's finish this."
As the sun disappeared behind the mountains, plunging the cabin into darkness, Serena felt the weight of the world pressing down on them. The next move would be critical. They were playing a dangerous game, and there were too many pieces on the board.
But one thing was certain.
They couldn't afford to lose.