The cold night air bit at their skin as JC, Alice, and Rex crept along the outskirts of Raven's towering walls. The faint glow of torches from the guard towers danced across the cobblestone streets behind them, casting long, flickering shadows. They had waited for hours, watching the patrols, timing their movements. Now was the moment.
"This is the last checkpoint," JC whispered, his voice barely audible. His calm gaze flickered between Alice and Rex. "Once we're past this, we're out."
Alice nodded, her hand tightening on the strap of the bag slung over her shoulder. "And then what?"
JC hesitated, his stoic demeanor faltering for the briefest moment. "We figure it out. Together."
Rex shifted nervously, his pale face lit by the dim light of the torches. "The stories say the wilderness is worse than the city. What if...what if there's nothing out there?"
Alice turned, her fiery determination cutting through the tension. "We've got to try, Rex. Staying here isn't an option. They'll kill us if they catch us."
JC placed a steady hand on Rex's shoulder. "She's right. We've come this far. We'll survive."
With that, they pressed forward, sticking to the shadows. The gates were heavily guarded, but the wall at the city's edge—where they now stood—was their best chance. It was old, crumbling in places, the kind of defect the guards rarely noticed because no one dared to venture beyond.
JC scaled the wall first, his movements silent and calculated. He reached the top, scanning the area before signaling for Alice to follow. She climbed quickly, her movements fluid despite the weight of her bag. Rex hesitated, glancing back at the city one last time before grabbing hold of the wall.
"Hurry, Rex," Alice whispered urgently from the top.
The pale boy nodded, his hands shaking as he climbed. Halfway up, a loose stone crumbled beneath his foot. He gasped, his body lurching backward before JC's strong grip caught him.
"I've got you," JC said, his calm voice cutting through Rex's panic. "Keep going."
They made it over the wall just as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the distance. Dropping to the other side, they landed in the soft undergrowth of the wilderness beyond.
---
The wilderness was nothing like the structured, orderly city of Raven. It was chaotic, alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures and the rustling of leaves in the wind. The air was damp and cold, carrying the earthy scent of moss and decaying wood.
Rex huddled close to the others, his wide eyes darting at every sound. "What if something's watching us?"
Alice rolled her eyes, though her own unease was evident. "There's always something watching us. Welcome to life outside Raven."
JC took the lead, his steps deliberate as he navigated the overgrown paths. "We need to find shelter before dawn. They'll start searching as soon as they realize we're gone."
They moved deeper into the forest, the canopy above swallowing the moonlight. The marks on their skin glowed faintly in the darkness, the runes pulsing with a rhythm that felt almost alive.
"What do you think these mean?" Alice asked, breaking the silence. She held up her wrist, where the rune curled like an intricate tattoo.
JC glanced at his own mark, the one that spiraled across his forearm. "I don't know. But I think they're connected to...him."
"Renkai," Rex said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The name hung in the air like a curse.
---
By the time they found a small clearing to rest in, exhaustion had set in. Alice dropped her bag with a sigh, stretching her sore limbs. Rex collapsed onto the ground, his breathing heavy.
JC remained standing, his sharp eyes scanning the perimeter. "We'll rest here for a few hours. Keep your weapons close."
"Weapons?" Rex asked, his voice tinged with panic.
Alice pulled a short dagger from her bag, twirling it deftly in her hand. "Relax, Rex. It's just a precaution."
JC sat down, his back against a tree. "Alice, take first watch. I'll take the second. Rex, you rest."
Alice nodded, her fiery gaze focused on the shadows beyond the clearing. Rex, despite his fear, was asleep within minutes, his exhaustion outweighing his anxiety.
JC's mind raced as he leaned against the tree. The runes on their skin had stopped glowing, but he could still feel their presence, a faint hum just beneath the surface. They were more than marks—they were a connection to something ancient, something powerful.
---
The next morning, they woke to the sound of birdsong and the golden light of dawn filtering through the trees. JC was already awake, his sharp gaze fixed on the horizon.
"We need to keep moving," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
As they packed their things, Alice glanced at Rex, who was still groggy. "You holding up okay?"
Rex nodded, though his pale face suggested otherwise. "I'll be fine. Just...don't leave me behind."
Alice smiled, a rare softness in her expression. "We're in this together, remember?"
JC led the way once again, his steady presence keeping them focused. They walked for hours, the forest around them growing denser with each step. The air was heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the sounds of civilization faded into memory.
As they walked, Alice couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced over her shoulder more than once, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger.
"You feel it too?" JC asked, his voice low.
Alice nodded. "Something's out there."
---
They came upon a stream around midday, its clear waters sparkling in the sunlight. JC knelt by the edge, filling a flask with water. Alice and Rex followed suit, grateful for the chance to rest.
As they drank, the runes on their skin began to glow again, faint but unmistakable. Rex's eyes widened as he looked down at his mark. "Why are they doing that?"
JC stood, his calm facade cracking just enough to show his concern. "I don't know."
Before anyone could say more, the air around them shifted. The forest grew still, the birds falling silent. A low, guttural growl echoed through the trees, sending a chill down their spines.
"Get ready," JC said, his voice steady but firm.
Alice drew her dagger, her fiery determination returning. Rex clutched his small knife, his hands trembling.
From the shadows emerged a creature unlike anything they had ever seen. It was massive, its body covered in matted fur and twisted vines. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its jagged teeth gleamed as it snarled.
"What...what is that?" Rex stammered, his voice shaking.
"Trouble," JC replied, stepping in front of his friends.
The creature lunged, and the trio braced themselves for their first fight in the wilderness—a battle that would test not just their strength, but the mysterious power that coursed through their veins.
---