The forest stood still, the faint breeze weaving through the trees barely rustling the leaves. Luke and Ava exchanged glances, their minds reeling from the woman's sudden appearance and the cryptic words that followed. Raven, as she called herself, stood before them, her dark eyes filled with intensity, yet there was an unmistakable layer of exhaustion hidden beneath her calm exterior.
Luke broke the silence first, his voice cautious. "Stop what's coming? You're going to have to be more specific. We've heard whispers, but we need details."
Raven studied them both for a long moment before nodding. "The man you saw? He's part of a group—mercenaries, assassins, call them what you will. But they're being used for something much bigger than money or power. They've been hired by someone—someone with far greater influence and darker plans than they even realize."
