Serena's fingers tightened around the hilt of her knife as she sat beside the dwindling fire, her eyes fixed on the shifting shadows beyond the tree line. The forest was too quiet. Even the natural rustling of animals and wind had faded, leaving a silence that pressed down on her like a weight. Every muscle in her body was tense, her instincts screaming that something was wrong. But she didn't know what—or who—was out there.
The hours crawled by slowly, and the sky above remained a starless void, the thick canopy of trees blotting out any light from the heavens. Rebecca stirred beside her, still fast asleep, though Serena could see her friend's face twitching with the remnants of whatever dream plagued her. Even in sleep, Rebecca was restless. They all were, after what they'd been through.
Serena shifted her position slightly, her back aching from hours of sitting still. She couldn't afford to sleep, not with the Lumen Corvus in her pack. The artifact was a magnet for danger, drawing in all kinds of forces, both human and otherworldly. Every second they spent in the open made them vulnerable, and every moment they didn't move felt like tempting fate.
Suddenly, a sharp snap echoed through the trees—too loud to be the random breaking of a branch. Serena shot to her feet, her knife raised, her heart pounding. The sound had come from behind the thick brush, too deliberate to be anything other than footsteps. Her eyes narrowed, scanning the area, trying to catch a glimpse of movement.
The forest, dark and unforgiving, gave nothing away.
"Rebecca," Serena hissed, her voice low but urgent.
Rebecca stirred instantly, her hand already reaching for her gun. Her eyes snapped open, and she was on her feet in seconds, her body poised for action. "What is it?"
"Something's out there," Serena whispered. "I heard movement."
Rebecca's face hardened, and she silently moved to Serena's side, her gun aimed at the shadows. They stood shoulder to shoulder, both of them alert, listening intently. The wind picked up, rustling the leaves overhead, but no further sounds came from the direction Serena had heard the noise.
Minutes passed, and nothing happened. Serena's heart continued to race, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Someone—or something—was out there, waiting.
"Could be an animal," Rebecca said quietly, though her tone suggested she didn't believe it. "Or it could be someone tracking us."
Serena nodded, her thoughts racing. She hadn't seen any signs of pursuit, but with the artifact in their possession, they couldn't afford to assume they were safe. The Lumen Corvus was a beacon of power, and anyone with knowledge of its existence would do whatever it took to possess it.
"We need to move," Serena said, her voice decisive. "We can't stay here."
Rebecca didn't argue. They quickly packed up their meager belongings, stamping out the fire to leave no trace of their camp. Within minutes, they were back on the trail, moving swiftly and silently through the dense forest. The moon, hidden behind layers of clouds, offered little light, but Serena's instincts guided her, each step deliberate and careful.
The hours passed in silence, both of them too focused on the possibility of pursuit to speak. Serena's mind churned with thoughts of Adrian and Elena. They were heading in the opposite direction, seeking answers, but that didn't mean they were safe. Serena had trusted them to follow their own path, but the unknown dangers lurking in the shadows weighed heavily on her.
By dawn, the forest began to thin out, the trees growing farther apart, allowing slivers of light to penetrate the gloom. The air was still cool, but the heaviness of the previous night had lifted slightly, giving Serena a momentary sense of relief. They had made it through the night without incident, but the nagging feeling of being watched hadn't left her.
As they approached a ridge overlooking a valley, Rebecca finally broke the silence. "We need a plan, Serena. We can't keep running without knowing where we're headed. We need a destination, something solid."
Serena stopped at the edge of the ridge, looking out over the vast expanse below. The valley stretched for miles, a patchwork of forests, rivers, and small towns nestled between the hills. It was beautiful, but to Serena, it represented uncertainty. Somewhere out there were people hunting for the Lumen Corvus. The artifact had to be destroyed, but they were no closer to finding out how to do that.
"I know," Serena said softly. "I have a contact—an old friend who might be able to help. He's off the grid, living near the coast. He knows about artifacts, has dealt with things like this before. If anyone has information on how to destroy the Lumen Corvus, it's him."
Rebecca nodded. "Then that's where we're headed. But we need to be careful. Whoever's tracking us, they're patient. They'll strike when we least expect it."
Serena clenched her jaw, her mind flashing back to the footsteps she had heard in the forest. Whoever it was, they were good—silent, methodical, waiting for the right moment. But Serena wasn't about to let them catch her off guard.
"We keep moving," Serena said, her voice firm. "And we don't stop until we find my contact. We can't afford to slow down."
They began their descent into the valley, navigating the steep slope with careful precision. The landscape was rough, the ground uneven, but Serena's years of experience in the field kept her steady. Every step brought them closer to the coast, closer to the answers they desperately needed.
As they reached the bottom of the valley, a small town came into view, nestled between the hills. Smoke rose from chimneys, and the faint sounds of life carried on the wind—people going about their daily routines, unaware of the chaos brewing around them.
"We'll need supplies," Rebecca said, glancing at the town. "We've been on the run too long without proper food or rest."
Serena hesitated. Going into town meant risking exposure, but they had no choice. They couldn't survive much longer on the few supplies they had left. "We go in quickly, get what we need, and get out. No drawing attention."
Rebecca nodded, and they made their way toward the town, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. The streets were quiet, the early morning haze still hanging over the rooftops, and for a brief moment, Serena felt a flicker of normalcy as they walked among the small homes and shops. It was a world so distant from the one she had lived in for the past few years—a world where people didn't carry the weight of ancient artifacts that could tear reality apart.
They entered a small general store at the edge of town, the bell above the door ringing softly as they stepped inside. The store was empty, save for an older man behind the counter, who barely glanced at them as they moved through the aisles, quickly gathering food and supplies.
As Serena reached for a can of food, she felt it again—the presence. That familiar prickling at the back of her neck, the sensation that someone was watching her.
She turned slowly, her eyes scanning the store. At first, everything seemed normal. But then, through the window, she saw a figure standing in the alley across the street, partially hidden in the shadows.
Her heart skipped a beat.
It wasn't just a passerby.
They had been found.
Serena's grip tightened on the can, her breath catching in her throat as the figure shifted slightly, stepping forward, just enough for her to see the gleam of metal in their hand.
She had seconds to react.
"Rebecca," Serena whispered, her voice low and urgent. "We need to go. Now."
Rebecca, sensing the danger immediately, grabbed the supplies and moved toward the door, her hand on her weapon. Serena followed, her mind racing. They couldn't afford a confrontation here, not in broad daylight, not with the artifact in her pack.
As they stepped outside, the figure in the alley disappeared.
But Serena knew they were being hunted.
And this time, there was no running.