Chapter 33: Into the Woods
The forest was dense and sprawling, with tall pines reaching into the sky like ancient sentinels. The scent of pine needles and damp earth filled the air, and the fading light gave the place an eerie, twilight feel. Adam and Henry walked in silence, their boots crunching on the uneven path.
The quiet was unnerving. Every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves made Adam's hand twitch toward his pocket, where his AI rested.
"Feels like we traded one trap for another," Henry muttered, glancing over his shoulder.
Adam stopped and looked back. The market and its chaos were long out of sight, but the forest seemed alive with unseen watchers. "Better than being surrounded in the open. At least here, we've got some cover."
Henry grunted in agreement and kept walking.
As they moved deeper into the woods, Adam pulled out his phone, the faint glow of the screen casting shadows on his face.
"That's comforting," Adam whispered.
Henry looked over. "What does your magic brick say this time?"
Adam smirked. "That we're walking through a spooky forest filled with bandits and monsters. Typical Tuesday."
Henry snorted. "Wouldn't be an adventure if it was easy."
They came across a clearing as the sun dipped below the horizon. A small, abandoned cabin sat in the center, its wooden walls sagging and moss creeping up the sides.
"Think it's safe?" Henry asked, eyeing the structure warily.
Adam scanned the area, his phone's flashlight illuminating the clearing.
"Someone's been here," Adam said. "But they're not here now."
Henry shrugged. "Good enough for me. I'd rather take my chances indoors than sleep out here with whatever's lurking."
The cabin's interior was sparse but functional. A rickety table, two chairs, and a stone fireplace dominated the single room. Adam set his backpack down and started a small fire in the hearth while Henry checked the perimeter.
"Any signs of our tail?" Adam asked when Henry returned.
Henry shook his head. "Nothing. Either they gave up, or they're smarter than I thought."
Adam relayed the suggestion, and Henry nodded. "I'll take first watch. You get some rest."
Despite the warmth of the fire, Adam found it hard to sleep. The wooden floor was unforgiving, and his mind raced with questions. Who were the pursuers in the market? Why were they following him? And why did the Shadow Fang dagger feel like it was meant for him?
Pulling his phone from his pocket, he stared at the screen. "You're sure that dagger was cursed?"
Adam frowned. "So it's powerful, but dangerous."
Adam sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I can't afford to make a mistake. Not with everything at stake."
He smirked. "You sound like a motivational poster."
Adam chuckled softly, tucking the phone back into his pocket.
Hours later, Henry shook him awake. "Your turn."
Adam groaned and stretched, his muscles protesting. The fire had died down to embers, casting a faint orange glow.
Henry collapsed onto the floor with a grunt. "Wake me if anything interesting happens."
Adam sat by the window, his phone in hand. The forest was unnervingly still, the kind of silence that felt too deliberate.
Adam stiffened. "Human?"
Gripping the phone tightly, Adam peered into the darkness. His heart pounded as he caught a faint glimmer of light—like a lantern—bobbing between the trees.
It disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared.
"Fantastic," Adam muttered.
The rest of his watch passed without incident, but sleep didn't come easily when he finally laid down. Whatever was out there, it wasn't finished with them yet.
End of Chapter 33