The rain showed no sign of letting up as Serena, Rebecca, Alex, Adrian, and Elena regrouped on the steep incline overlooking the dense forest. The sense of temporary relief at being reunited was fleeting. Serena's mind raced, trying to piece together a plan while the echoes of distant gunfire still seemed to linger in the humid air.
"We can't stay here long," Rebecca said, her voice low but steady as she glanced toward the treeline below. "Whoever those people are, they're going to keep hunting us. They know we have the Lumen Corvus."
Serena nodded. The relentless pursuit weighed on her like a lead blanket. Whoever was after them wasn't just after the artifact—they were skilled, organized, and determined to eliminate any obstacles in their way. It wasn't the Covenant's style. This was something else, something dangerous.
"They're well-equipped," Alex added, wiping rainwater from his face. "I saw night-vision goggles, advanced weapons. Whoever hired them spared no expense."
Elena, who had been silent since their escape, spoke up, her voice tense. "If they're mercenaries, they won't stop until they complete their mission. We need to be smarter, faster."
Serena glanced at Adrian, who was scanning the forest below with an almost predatory focus. "Any brilliant ideas, Adrian? Or are we just supposed to keep running?"
Adrian's eyes flicked to her, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Running's not the worst option in the world, but I think we're past that now. They'll track us no matter where we go. Our best bet? We turn the tables."
Serena raised an eyebrow. "Turn the tables?"
Adrian crouched down, using a stick to trace a crude map in the muddy ground. "They've got numbers and firepower, but they don't know the terrain like we do now. We've been moving through this forest for hours, and we know the best places to lay low. We use that to our advantage."
Rebecca frowned, her eyes narrowing as she studied the makeshift map. "You're suggesting an ambush?"
Adrian's smile widened. "I'm suggesting we make them regret coming after us. If we can eliminate their numbers, even just a few of them, we'll weaken their pursuit."
Serena's instincts bristled at the idea of engaging the mercenaries head-on, but Adrian had a point. They couldn't keep running indefinitely, and they couldn't outrun an enemy with superior resources. Sooner or later, they'd be caught in a vulnerable position, and if they didn't strike back now, the next encounter could be their last.
"We lure them in," Serena said, catching on. "Set up an ambush, hit them hard, and slip away before they can regroup."
Alex shifted uneasily. "It's risky. If they catch onto what we're doing, we could get boxed in."
"That's why we choose the spot," Adrian replied smoothly. "We control the environment, force them into a position where they can't use their numbers or firepower effectively."
Serena stared at the muddy map, weighing the options. It was risky, yes, but she could see the merit in Adrian's plan. They had no choice but to go on the offensive. With each passing hour, their pursuers were getting closer, and the window of opportunity was shrinking.
"We'll set the trap," Serena said finally, her voice firm. "But we have to be smart about this. We don't know how many more are out there, and we can't afford to get trapped ourselves."
Rebecca nodded in agreement. "There's a narrow ravine about a mile from here. Thick trees on either side, and only one way in and out. It's a good spot for an ambush."
"Perfect," Adrian said, standing up and brushing the mud from his hands. "We'll set up there. But we'll need to move fast. They'll be expecting us to keep running, so if we stop, they'll come looking."
Serena glanced at Elena. "You up for this?"
Elena's face was pale, but she nodded, her jaw set in determination. "I'm not a fighter, but I'll do what I can."
"Good," Serena said. "Let's get moving."
The group moved quickly through the forest, their footsteps barely audible over the sound of rain and rustling leaves. Serena's senses were on high alert, every shadow and movement sending her heart racing. The knowledge that they were being hunted didn't leave her mind for a second.
As they approached the ravine, the terrain grew rockier, the ground uneven beneath their feet. The thick canopy overhead provided some cover from the rain, but the storm continued to rage, making visibility difficult. The ravine itself was as Rebecca had described—a narrow gorge flanked by high walls of rock and dense trees.
"This is it," Rebecca said, pointing to the mouth of the ravine. "If we position ourselves on either side, we can hit them from above. They'll have no choice but to enter if they're following us."
Serena nodded. "We'll split into two teams. Rebecca and I will take the left side, Adrian and Alex, you take the right. Elena, stay low and out of sight. If things go wrong, you run."
Elena nodded, her face tense but resolute.
They quickly set up positions on either side of the ravine, using the rocks and thick foliage as cover. Serena crouched low behind a large boulder, her heart pounding in her chest as she scanned the forest below. The rain made it hard to hear anything clearly, but she knew their pursuers were close.
Minutes passed in tense silence, the only sound the steady patter of rain against leaves. Serena's fingers tightened around her weapon, her eyes darting from shadow to shadow. Then, just as she began to doubt their plan, she heard it—a faint rustling in the distance. Footsteps, careful and deliberate, moving toward the ravine.
"They're coming," Serena whispered into her earpiece.
The figures appeared out of the mist, moving cautiously through the trees. There were five of them, dressed in the same dark tactical gear as the mercenaries who had attacked them earlier. They moved in formation, weapons raised, scanning the area for any signs of their quarry.
Serena's heart raced as the mercenaries entered the mouth of the ravine, oblivious to the trap they were walking into. She glanced across the gorge and saw Adrian and Alex in position, their weapons drawn.
"Wait for my signal," Serena whispered, her breath shallow. "Let them get deeper in."
The mercenaries advanced further into the ravine, their eyes darting around the narrow passage. They were cautious, but not cautious enough. Serena waited until they were fully inside, then gave the signal.
"Now!"
Gunfire erupted from both sides of the ravine, the sound deafening as Serena and the others opened fire. The mercenaries were caught off guard, scrambling for cover as they were hit from above. Two of them went down instantly, their bodies crumpling to the ground.
The remaining mercenaries fired back, but they were trapped. The narrow passage gave them little room to maneuver, and the thick trees on either side made it nearly impossible for them to get a clear shot.
Serena fired again, taking down another mercenary as he tried to retreat. The remaining two were pinned, their desperate shots hitting nothing but rock and foliage.
One of them made a break for it, trying to escape the way they had come, but Adrian was faster. He fired a single, precise shot, and the mercenary collapsed to the ground.
The last man standing raised his hands in surrender, realizing he was outmatched.
"Hold your fire!" Serena shouted, stepping out from behind the boulder.
The mercenary dropped his weapon, his eyes wide with fear as he glanced around at the fallen members of his team. Serena approached cautiously, her weapon still trained on him.
"Who sent you?" she demanded, her voice cold and steady.
The mercenary hesitated, then muttered something under his breath. Serena stepped closer, her patience wearing thin.
"I said, who sent you?"
The mercenary's eyes darted toward the ground, and in that moment, Serena saw the telltale sign of a detonator strapped to his chest.
"Get back!" she shouted, diving for cover just as the explosion ripped through the ravine.
The world erupted in fire and smoke, the force of the blast sending Serena tumbling to the ground.