Serena sat in the dimly lit chamber, her mind heavy with the weight of everything that had happened. The air in Adrian's hidden safehouse was thick with tension, the small room feeling even smaller under the pressure of what they were facing. Her muscles ached from the day's ordeal, and her shoulder still throbbed, but she ignored the pain, focusing on the task ahead.
She glanced around the room. Rebecca leaned against the wall, her eyes closed, but Serena knew she wasn't truly resting. Alex sat nearby, quietly cleaning his gun, his jaw set with grim determination. Adrian, as usual, was unnervingly calm, casually leaning back on a crate as if this were just another one of his games. And Elena—Elena sat in the corner, her face pale, her eyes distant as if lost in thought.
They were all exhausted, but Serena knew they couldn't afford to relax, not yet.
"We need to talk about what happens next," Serena said, breaking the silence. Her voice was steady, but the seriousness in her tone caught everyone's attention. Rebecca opened her eyes, Alex set down his gun, and Adrian raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.
"Next?" Adrian repeated with a smirk. "I thought we were finally catching our breath."
Serena ignored his sarcasm. "The attacks aren't going to stop. Whether it's the Covenant, the Seekers, or some other faction we haven't encountered yet, they all want the Lumen Corvus. And the longer we stay in one place, the more time we give them to find us."
Rebecca nodded in agreement. "We can't stay on the run forever, though. We need a plan—something solid. Just running and hiding isn't going to cut it."
Serena turned to Elena. "You mentioned a legend. Something about the Lumen Corvus unlocking the veil between worlds. What else do you know?"
Elena blinked, snapping out of her trance. She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "The Lumen Corvus is ancient—far older than the Sangreal or the Crux Ignis. It's said to be the key to something bigger, something… otherworldly. The legends are vague, but there's one recurring theme: it can break the boundaries between our world and whatever lies beyond."
Serena frowned. "Beyond? You mean… another dimension?"
Elena nodded slowly. "Or something worse. Some say it's a gateway, a tool for summoning or controlling forces from beyond our understanding. If that's what the Seekers are after, it means they want more than just power. They want to reshape reality itself."
The room fell into a heavy silence as her words sank in. Serena's stomach twisted. It was worse than she had feared. The Lumen Corvus wasn't just a weapon or a powerful relic—it was a key to something far more dangerous.
Rebecca folded her arms, her expression dark. "If that's true, then we can't just keep running. We have to stop them from getting their hands on it."
"How?" Alex asked, his voice tense. "We don't even know where they are, or how many there are. And even if we do find them, we're up against a full-blown cult, with resources and fanatics willing to die for this."
Adrian, ever the opportunist, leaned forward slightly, his smile returning. "Well, we do have an advantage. We have the Lumen Corvus. That makes us the ones holding the cards, for now."
Serena shot him a look. "Holding the cards doesn't mean much when they're willing to kill us all to get it."
Adrian shrugged, unfazed. "True. But we're not as powerless as you think. We could use the Lumen Corvus to draw them out."
Rebecca's eyes narrowed. "You're suggesting we use the artifact as bait?"
Adrian's smirk widened. "Exactly. They're desperate for it. If we make them think they're close to getting it, they'll reveal themselves. We could force a confrontation on our terms."
Serena considered the idea, her mind racing. It was risky—extremely risky. But Adrian was right about one thing: they couldn't keep playing defense. If they could control the circumstances, set a trap of their own, they might have a chance to strike at the heart of the Seekers before they could act.
But it was a gamble, and one that could cost them dearly if it went wrong.
"What do you think, Serena?" Rebecca asked quietly, her eyes filled with concern. "Do we really want to risk drawing them out? We don't even know what we're dealing with."
Serena sighed, running a hand through her damp hair. "We can't wait for them to make the first move. If they get the Lumen Corvus, it's over. We need to take the fight to them, but we do it smart. We use the artifact as bait, but we set up the encounter somewhere we can control. Somewhere we have the upper hand."
Alex frowned, leaning forward. "And where exactly would that be? If they have the kind of resources Adrian's talking about, they'll be expecting traps."
Serena thought for a moment. "We need a location that's isolated enough to keep civilians out of danger but defensible enough to give us cover. Somewhere remote, but not so remote that we can't get backup if we need it."
Adrian, clearly enjoying the strategic turn in the conversation, tilted his head thoughtfully. "I might know a place. An old fortress in the mountains, not far from here. It's been abandoned for centuries, but the terrain is perfect for an ambush. There are hidden tunnels, narrow passages—plenty of opportunities to outmaneuver them."
Serena met his gaze, her eyes narrowing. "And why do I get the feeling you've used this fortress before?"
Adrian's smile didn't falter. "Let's just say it's come in handy a few times. But in this case, it'll work perfectly for what we need. It's remote, defensible, and no one will see us coming."
Serena looked around at the others, searching their faces for any sign of hesitation. Rebecca and Alex exchanged a glance, clearly uneasy, but both nodded. They understood what was at stake. Elena, though clearly frightened, gave a determined nod as well.
Serena exhaled slowly, the decision made.
"Alright," she said. "We'll lure them to the fortress. We set the trap, force them to reveal themselves, and we hit them hard. But we do this on our terms. No risks we don't need to take."
Adrian's eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "Then it's settled. We have our plan."
Serena wasn't sure if she trusted the gleam in his eye, but right now, they needed him. His knowledge of the terrain, of their enemies, was invaluable. Still, she would keep a close watch on him. Adrian's games always came with a price, and she wasn't about to pay more than she had to.
"We'll move at first light," Serena said, rising to her feet. "Get some rest while you can. Tomorrow, we take the fight to them."
The others nodded, though the tension in the air was palpable. They were all aware of the risks. The Seekers weren't like the Covenant or the mercenaries—they were something darker, something more dangerous. And whatever happened at that fortress, Serena knew it would be the beginning of the end, one way or another.
As she settled into the corner of the chamber, her mind still racing, Serena couldn't shake the feeling that their enemies were already closing in, watching and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
And tomorrow, that moment would come.
The trap was set, but it was unclear who would fall into it first.