The night air was cold and heavy, wrapping around Elena like a suffocating blanket. Kael moved ahead of her, his steps quick and purposeful, while she struggled to keep up.
"Where are we even going?" she asked, her breath visible in the chill.
"A safe house," Kael replied without looking back.
"A safe house? You make it sound like I'm in some spy movie."
Kael stopped abruptly, spinning to face her. His sharp gaze pinned her in place. "This isn't a movie, Elena. It's your life. And it's about to get a lot more dangerous if we don't move faster."
She opened her mouth to argue, but the sound of something rustling in the trees silenced her. Kael's hand went to the hilt of the blade strapped to his side, and he scanned the shadows, his body tense.
Elena followed his gaze, her heart pounding. "Is it... them?"
Kael didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed her arm, his grip firm but not painful. "Stay close to me. And whatever you do, don't scream."
Elena swallowed hard, her pulse racing. "That's not exactly reassuring."
They continued moving, the forest around them growing darker with every step. The path was uneven, roots and rocks threatening to trip her at every turn, but Kael navigated it effortlessly.
"How do you even know where this safe house is?" she asked, more to break the oppressive silence than anything else.
Kael glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "It's my job to know."
"That's not an answer."
"You'll get answers when you're safe," he said firmly.
Elena bit back a retort, too tired and too scared to argue. She focused on putting one foot in front of the other, her mind racing with everything that had happened.
The growling from earlier still echoed in her ears, and the image of that creature—the glowing red eyes, the leathery skin—was burned into her memory.
"What are they?" she asked after a while.
Kael hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Hunters."
"Hunters? Hunters of what?"
"Anything that threatens their agenda," he said, his voice grim. "And right now, that's you."
"Me?" She stopped walking, forcing him to turn and face her. "Why me? I'm nobody. Just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life—"
Kael stepped closer, his intense gaze locking onto hers. "You're not ordinary, Elena. And deep down, you know it."
Her breath caught in her throat. She wanted to deny it, to laugh in his face and call him crazy. But a part of her—the part that had always felt out of place, like she didn't quite belong—couldn't argue.
Before she could respond, Kael's head snapped to the side, his entire body going rigid.
"They're close," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Elena's heart leaped into her throat. "How do you know?"
Kael didn't answer. He reached into his coat, pulling out a sleek, metallic device that glowed faintly in the darkness. The light pulsed rhythmically, faster and faster.
"Because they never give up," he muttered, shoving the device back into his pocket.
A low growl echoed through the trees, louder than before.
Kael drew his blade, its edge catching the faint moonlight. "When I say run, you run. Don't stop, don't look back. Understand?"
"What about you?" Elena asked, her voice trembling.
"I'll handle them."
She wanted to argue, to tell him she wouldn't leave him behind, but the look in his eyes stopped her. It wasn't fear or hesitation. It was determination.
Before she could say another word, the growling turned into a roar, and something burst from the shadows.
Elena's scream caught in her throat as another creature, larger and more grotesque than the first, charged toward them.
"Run!" Kael shouted, pushing her toward the path.
She stumbled, her feet moving before her brain could catch up. The forest blurred around her as she ran, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. Behind her, she heard the clash of metal against flesh, Kael's grunts of effort, and the creature's enraged snarls.
She didn't stop running until she saw a faint light ahead—a small cabin nestled among the trees.
Her legs burned as she stumbled to the door, her hands shaking as she fumbled with the handle. It was locked.
"Come on, come on," she muttered, glancing over her shoulder.
The sounds of the fight grew louder, closer. She pounded on the door, desperation clawing at her. "Kael!"
The door suddenly swung open from the inside, and she nearly fell forward. A man stood there, older and grizzled, his eyes sharp and wary.
"You must be Elena," he said, his voice rough.
She stared at him, her chest heaving. "Kael—he's still out there—"
The man stepped aside, motioning her in. "He'll be fine. Get inside before you bring more trouble."
Reluctantly, she stepped into the cabin, her mind spinning. The man closed the door behind her, bolting it with practiced ease.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed a rifle from the wall, his movements calm and deliberate.
"I hope you're worth all this trouble," he muttered, heading toward the door.
Before she could respond, the door burst open, and Kael stumbled inside, blood staining his clothes.
"They just keep coming," he growled, slamming the door shut.
The older man frowned. "You brought them here?"
Kael shot him a glare. "We didn't have a choice."
Elena stared at them, her heart racing. "What now?"
Kael wiped blood from his face, his expression grim. "Now we fight."