The Bloodbath Prophecy
The meeting hall was filled with an uneasy silence. Lanterns hung from the walls, their flickering flames casting long, wavering shadows across the wooden table where the leaders of the group sat. Elias stood at the head of the table, his sharp gray eyes scanning the room, noting the tension etched on every face.
Beside him, Lara leaned forward slightly, her expression one of quiet intensity. Margot sat with her arms crossed, her usual sharp demeanor more subdued. Across the table, Tobias's presence loomed, his disapproving glare unmistakable. Around them, Jack, Daniel, Becca, and Lyn completed the circle, their faces varying degrees of curiosity, skepticism, and determination.
The air was heavy with anticipation as Lyn stepped into the center of the room. She drew in a shaky breath, her dark eyes scanning the group before speaking.
"You need to understand," Lyn began, her voice steady but heavy with emotion. "The City isn't just alive—it's evolving. Every building, every shadow, every sound… it's all connected, and it's watching us. But there are places within it—five, specifically—that hold its deepest secrets."
She raised a trembling hand, counting each one off. "The Sujay Psychiatry Hospital. The Redwood Boarding School. The Vines Estate. The Lost Town. And finally…" She paused, her voice dropping into a near-whisper. "The Dunewalk."
Lara frowned, leaning forward. "The Dunewalk? That's not part of the City, is it?"
"No," Lyn said, shaking her head. "The Dunewalk is a town far to the west—bigger than any of the safe zones surrounding the City. It's advanced, civilized, and heavily guarded. It's where the prophecy ends. Where everything converges."
"Converges?" Jack asked, his voice skeptical.
"The Bloodbath," Lyn replied, her tone grim. "That's what they call it. The final battle. All of the safe towns—Arcane Falls, Clover Hill, and Beacon Hillside—will send their strongest to the Dunewalk. Together, they'll face the City's forces in a war unlike anything you can imagine."
Becca's brow furrowed as she exchanged a glance with Daniel. "If the Dunewalk is so advanced, why haven't they come to help us?"
"They don't accept outsiders easily," Lyn explained. "The Dunewalk is a place of knowledge, of strength. To them, we're just another group of people trying to survive. If we want their help—if we even want to reach the Dunewalk—we need to prove ourselves. We need knowledge. Answers. Mysteries of the City they don't already know."
"Which means we need to explore those five places you mentioned," Margot said, her voice firm.
Lyn nodded. "Yes. But it won't be easy. The City doesn't want us to find those answers. It will fight us every step of the way. If we're not prepared—mentally, physically—we won't survive."
Her voice dropped, her next words sending a chill through the room. "If we fail, the Dunewalk won't even consider us. We'll be left to die, or worse—become prisoners of the City."
Tobias let out a sharp laugh, leaning back in his chair. "You expect us to risk everything—our people, our resources—on the word of a frightened child?"
Lyn stiffened, her hands balling into fists. "I'm not a child," she said through clenched teeth. "I've seen what this City can do. I've lived through its horrors. You can dismiss me if you want, but that won't change the truth."
"And what truth is that?" Tobias asked, his voice dripping with condescension.
"That this part of the town will fall," Lyn said bluntly. "Soon. The City is already crumbling around us. If we don't act, everyone here will die."
Tobias scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "You speak in riddles and fear. You don't offer proof, just warnings. And you expect us to follow you blindly into the dark?"
Lara slammed her hands on the table, her voice cutting through the tension. "This isn't about following anyone blindly, Tobias. It's about survival. If Lyn's right—and I believe she is—then we can't afford to sit here and do nothing."
Margot leaned forward, her tone sharp. "For once, Tobias, stop thinking about your pride and start thinking about the people who rely on you. If we wait until the City crumbles, it'll be too late."
Jack nodded in agreement. "We've seen what the shadows can do. This place isn't safe. We need to start preparing now."
Even Becca, usually quiet during these debates, spoke up. "If the Dunewalk really is the key to survival, shouldn't we be doing everything we can to get there?"
But Tobias shook his head, his expression resolute. "I won't gamble the lives of my people on baseless stories and theories. You want to go on your little crusade? Fine. But don't expect me to support it."
Elias, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward, his gaze locked on Tobias. "With or without you, we're going ahead with this plan," he said, his voice calm but unyielding.
Tobias's face turned red with anger. "You think you can undermine me? You think you can just waltz in here, play hero, and take control?"
"This isn't about control," Elias replied, his tone icy. "It's about doing what needs to be done. If you're too scared or too proud to see that, then step aside."
The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
Tobias slammed his hand on the table, his voice rising. "You're a fool, Elias. And so are you, Lara. And you, Margot. All of you think you're so clever, so brave. But you're going to get us all killed!"
"Tobias—" Lara started, but he cut her off.
"Stay out of this!" he snapped. "You're just as reckless as him. Maybe more so. You've been infatuated with him from the start, haven't you? Blindly following him like some lovesick fool!"
Elias's eyes darkened, his voice dangerously low. "That's enough."
But Tobias wasn't finished. He turned to Margot, his sneer widening. "And you—you're nothing but a blunt instrument. A hammer looking for a nail. You think strength alone will save us? It won't. You're just as deluded as the rest of them."
Margot's fists clenched, her knuckles white, but she stayed silent, her jaw tight.
The tension in the room reached a boiling point. Elias stepped forward, his towering frame casting a shadow across the table. His voice, calm but laced with an edge of steel, cut through Tobias's tirade like a blade.
"We're not here to trade insults," Elias said. "We're here to survive. And if you can't see that, then step aside. I won't let your stubborn pride endanger everyone here."
Tobias sneered, his face red with anger. "You think you're better than me, Elias? You think you can just take charge and lead us to safety? You don't know this town, these people, or what they've been through."
"And yet I'm the one trying to save them," Elias replied, his tone unwavering. "While you sit here clinging to your authority like it's a lifeline."
The room was deathly silent, the only sound the faint crackle of the lanterns. Everyone's eyes darted between the two men, the air thick with unspoken tension.
Lara rose from her seat, her voice steady but sharp. "Enough, both of you. This isn't about who's in charge. It's about what's best for everyone here." She turned to Tobias, her green eyes blazing with determination.
"Tobias, I know you don't trust Lyn, or Elias, or even me. But can you honestly say you're doing everything you can to protect these people? Or are you just afraid of losing control?"
Tobias's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.
"This isn't a game," Lara continued, her voice softening. "We're all scared. We're all trying to survive. But if we don't act now, we're as good as dead."
For a moment, Tobias looked like he might relent, but then his face hardened again. "Do what you want," he said coldly. "But don't expect me to clean up your mess when it all falls apart."
As Tobias stormed out of the room, Margot stood, her hands still clenched at her sides. "Coward," she muttered under her breath, but she didn't follow him.
Instead, she turned to Elias, her expression unreadable. "You're right," she said. "With or without him, we move forward."
Elias nodded, though his gaze lingered on the door Tobias had slammed shut.
Elias turned back to the group, his voice calm but resolute. "We don't have time to waste. Lyn, I want you to work with Margot and Jack to prepare the townspeople—physically and mentally. We'll need everyone at their best."
Margot nodded. "Understood."
"Becca," Elias continued, "start stockpiling supplies. Food, water, medical kits—anything we'll need for an extended expedition."
Becca gave a curt nod. "Already on it."
"Daniel," Elias said, turning to the transport leader, "map out the safest routes to the Sujay Psychiatry Hospital and the Redwood Boarding School. Those will be our first targets."
Daniel frowned but nodded. "I'll do what I can."
Finally, Elias looked at Lara. "And you," he said, his tone softening slightly, "I need you to keep the group together. They'll listen to you, even when they won't listen to me."
Lara met his gaze, her lips curving into a faint smile. "I'll do my best."
As the meeting broke up, the group lingered for a moment, the weight of their decisions settling heavily on their shoulders.
"Do you think he'll come around?" Becca asked quietly, glancing toward the door where Tobias had exited.
"No," Margot said bluntly. "And honestly, we don't need him."
Elias nodded in agreement, though his expression remained thoughtful. "We can't waste energy trying to convince him. Our focus has to be on the mission."
Lyn stepped forward, her voice hesitant. "Thank you… for believing me. I know it's a lot to take in, but I promise, I won't let you down."
Elias gave her a faint smile. "Just stay honest with us, Lyn. That's all I ask."
Later that night, as the town settled into an uneasy silence, Elias and Lara stood on the balcony of their building. The moon cast a pale glow over the streets below, and the distant hum of life was a reminder of the fragile hope they were clinging to.
"You handled Tobias well," Elias said quietly, his gray eyes fixed on the horizon.
Lara sighed, leaning against the railing. "He won't forgive us for this. You know that, right?"
"I'm not asking for his forgiveness," Elias replied. "I'm asking for survival. If he can't see that, then he's already lost."
Lara glanced at him, her expression softening. "You carry so much, Elias. I just hope it doesn't break you."
He turned to her, his gaze steady. "Not as long as you're here."
For a moment, the weight of the world seemed to fade, leaving only the quiet connection between them.
"Come on," Elias said finally, his voice lighter. "We have a long road ahead. Let's get some rest."