The quiet of the safehouse wrapped around them like a protective cocoon, but Aidi couldn't shake the weight of the discovery. Her eyes stayed glued to the laptop screen, the faces of Hetri and his conspirators etched into her memory.
Julian continued scrolling through the files, each one revealing more layers of Hetri's plans. There were encrypted financial records, outlines of illegal operations, and a network map detailing the reach of Hetri's influence. It was more than they'd imagined—a blueprint of corruption that spanned continents.
Liam leaned forward, his jaw tight. "This isn't just about his empire. He's embedded in governments, corporations...everything."
Julian rubbed the back of his neck. "We need to decode some of these files. If we release them like this, people might not understand the scope of what we're dealing with. It'll look like conspiracy theories."
Aidi closed her eyes for a moment, the flickering firelight playing on her face. "Then we need someone who can make sense of it. Someone who knows how to expose this without putting more people in danger."
Julian nodded. "I know a journalist. Her name is Maren Adesina. She's been chasing stories like this for years, but she's careful—she doesn't publish until she's sure of the truth."
"Will she help us?" Liam asked.
"She will," Julian said, a note of confidence in his voice. "But getting to her won't be easy. Hetri's people are watching the cities, and she's not exactly someone you can just call. We'll need to take the long way around."
Aidi frowned. "What do you mean?"
Julian stood, moving to a shelf and pulling down a map. He spread it out on the table, pointing to their current location and then tracing a winding path to a city several days away.
"This is where she's based," he said, tapping the map. "We'll need to avoid major roads and stick to back routes. It'll take longer, but it's safer."
"Safer," Liam echoed, his voice heavy with doubt. "But not safe."
Julian met his gaze. "Nothing about this is safe, Liam. But it's the only way."
Aidi felt the weight of the locket in her pocket, its significance heavier now that they knew what it contained. She couldn't let fear paralyze her—not when so much was at stake.
"We'll do it," she said firmly.
Julian gave her a small smile. "Good. Get some rest tonight. We leave at dawn."
---
The morning came faster than any of them expected. The forest was cloaked in mist, the air damp and chilly. Julian handed them each a small backpack filled with essentials—food, water, and a change of clothes.
"Travel light," he advised. "We'll pick up more supplies on the way if we need to."
They set off as the sun began to rise, its pale light filtering through the trees. The forest was alive with the sounds of birds and the occasional rustle of leaves, but the tension among the group was palpable.
Aidi kept her focus on the path ahead, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. She had no idea what kind of person Maren was or if she'd even agree to help, but she had to believe that Julian was right.
Their progress was slow but steady, the uneven terrain forcing them to stay alert. They avoided open spaces, sticking to the cover of trees and underbrush. Every now and then, Julian would stop, listening intently for any signs of pursuit.
By midday, they reached a small clearing where Julian signaled for a break. They sat in a circle, sharing a meal of dried fruit and bread.
"How much farther today?" Liam asked, his voice quiet.
"A few more hours," Julian replied. "We'll camp tonight and keep moving tomorrow. The closer we get to the city, the more careful we'll need to be."
Aidi looked at Liam, noticing the weariness in his eyes. "You okay?"
He nodded, though his expression was distant. "Just thinking."
She wanted to press him, but the words didn't come. Instead, she turned her attention to the forest, its beauty marred by the constant fear of being discovered.
As they prepared to continue, Julian suddenly froze, his hand going to the knife at his belt. "Quiet," he whispered.
The group stilled, their senses on high alert. Aidi's pulse quickened as she strained to hear what Julian had.
Then she heard it—a faint rustling in the underbrush, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps.
Liam moved closer to her, his eyes scanning the trees. "Do you think they've found us?"
Julian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he motioned for them to stay low, his own movements silent as he crept toward the edge of the clearing.
The tension was suffocating as they waited, every second stretching into an eternity. Finally, Julian returned, his expression grim.
"There's someone following us," he said quietly. "I couldn't see them, but they're close."
Aidi felt a shiver run down her spine. "What do we do?"
Julian hesitated, clearly weighing their options. "We move, but carefully. If they're tracking us, they'll expect us to run. We'll take a detour and try to lose them in the denser part of the forest."
The detour added hours to their journey, the thick undergrowth slowing their progress even further. Aidi's legs ached, and the weight of the locket seemed to grow heavier with each step.
By the time they stopped for the night, the exhaustion was palpable. Julian built a small, smokeless fire for warmth, and they huddled around it, their faces illuminated by the faint glow.
"Do you think they'll catch up to us?" Aidi asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Julian shook his head. "Not tonight. We covered our tracks well, and this part of the forest is hard to navigate. But we can't let our guard down."
Sleep came fitfully that night, the fear of pursuit ever-present. Aidi dreamed of Hetri's face, his cold eyes staring through her as he reached for the locket. She woke with a start, her heart racing, and it took her a moment to remember where she was.
Liam was awake too, sitting a few feet away and staring into the dying embers of the fire.
"Couldn't sleep?" she asked, moving to sit beside him.
He shook his head. "Too much on my mind."
Aidi hesitated, then said, "We'll get through this, Liam. We have to."
He looked at her, his expression softening. "I know. It's just...I've never felt this responsible for something so big before."
She placed a hand on his arm. "You're not alone in this. We're in it together."
For the first time that night, a small smile broke through his worry. "Thanks, Aidi."
As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, the group prepared to move again. The forest seemed quieter than before, the sense of urgency driving them forward.
Their journey was far from over, but for the first time, Aidi felt a glimmer of hope. They had the locket, the files, and each other. And together, they would find a way to bring Hetri down.