The atmosphere between them was charged with an intensity that even Donan hadn't foreseen. He knew the kiss had been a demonstration of something deeper, something both of them were beginning to understand without words.
The passion was there, but so was an awareness that the moment couldn't be dissipated by impulse.
Luna, her face still flushed and her eyes glowing with a strength Donan deeply admired, looked at him and, with a slight smile on her lips, said:
"Now that you've told me your plan, what do we do next? How are we going to face Moldor and his henchmen?"
Donan, his heart racing, felt the weight of responsibility intensify. It was no longer just a plan for revenge or retaliation—now it was something more.
He was willing to face anything, to fight to the end, but most importantly, for the first time, he knew Luna was by his side. And that gave him a strength he never knew he had.
"The first thing is to stay calm, Luna. Moldor won't expect us to organize ourselves; he thinks he's in control. But we have cards he doesn't see coming. You're stronger now, for sure, and I'll be with you every step of the way."
Luna rose from the towel that covered her, the weight of the water no longer holding her down. Her confidence seemed to renew with each passing moment, and she knew Donan not only respected her but also understood her fight. He saw that she didn't want to be treated as fragile, that she was there, ready to fight until the end.
"So, what's the first step?" Luna asked, already mentally preparing herself for what was to come.
Donan hesitated for a second. The words were in his mind, but he knew he couldn't rush things. The plan had to be executed with precision.
"The first step is to use what we have. The clues you left in the corridors, the animals, the advantage of the terrain. We'll use all that against them. Moldor and his henchmen think they're in control, but I know how to flip that."
He looked at her, trying to gauge the confidence in her eyes.
"I need you to be strong, Luna. I know you can be the key to turning this around."
Luna, with a grace only she possessed, nodded. There was something in his confidence that made her believe, even though her mind was still filled with doubts about what would come next.
"And when it's all over? When this game is done, Donan… what will we do? What happens then?"
Donan smiled, with a faint touch of sadness, as if he already knew the answer. He stepped forward, moving closer to her, but this time, there were no more words, only a silence that said everything.
He kissed her again, but now it was a gentler, deeper kiss. A kiss that united not just their bodies but their souls.
"Afterward…" he said, his voice choked with emotion. "Afterward, we'll live, Luna. We'll live without fear. Together."
They didn't know what the future would bring, but they were certain that as long as they were together, they could face anything.
And in that moment, Luna knew Donan was no longer just thinking about revenge or justice; he was thinking about what would come after, about what they would build together from that point on.
"She felt something warm her chest. She knew the fight was far from over, but in that brief moment of calm, she felt something even more powerful than pain and fear: hope.
The mansion seemed to breathe tension in every corner. Donan, guiding Luna through the secret corridors, quickly outlined the plan. His low and steady voice showed that he had matured—he was no longer the same naïve boy. Luna followed him attentively, her gaze determined. It was time to act.
'Each one is in a different room,' Donan said, mentally pointing out the layout of the house as they walked through the narrow passages. 'My father, my mother, and your uncle Johnny. We need to get them out, one by one.'
Luna nodded, gripping the improvised ropes they would use to immobilize the henchmen tightly.
'First, your father. He's in the room near the main hall, right?' she asked, confirming the initial steps of the plan.
'Yes, and the room only has one exit. The henchman should be right at the door. It's your chance.'
Luna smirked. That expression was more than confidence—it was certainty that she could win.
'Leave it to me.'
They advanced to a small opening in the wall, where they could observe the room. The light was dim, and the muffled sound of the henchmen's voices echoed. Luna waited for Donan's signal before stepping out of the passage. At the click of the door opening, she acted.
The henchman barely had time to understand what was happening. Luna surprised him with a quick blow to the side of his head. He collapsed to the floor before he could react.
'You won't even miss your bed,' she whispered, tying him up securely.
Donan entered shortly after, helping free his father, who was gagged and tied to a chair. The man, still dazed, thanked them quietly as Donan quickly explained the plan.
'Father, follow the passage we'll show you. It's safe. Wait until Uncle Johnny calls for help.'
The man nodded, and they moved on.
Each rescue carried its own dose of tension, but Luna was methodical and precise. The henchman guarding Donan's mother tried to fight back, but she was faster, taking him down with a blow to the leg and a firm punch to the jaw.
'You have a talent for this,' Donan murmured, impressed, as he helped his mother to her feet.
'It's not talent, Donan. It's survival,' she replied with a half-smile, already preparing for the next move.
With Uncle Johnny, the plan took on another dimension. While Luna dealt with the henchman, Donan explained to Luna's uncle what needed to be done.
'You need to get to their car and call the police. They destroyed all the phones in the house, but outside, there's still a signal.'
Johnny hesitated for a moment, worried about the risks, but the determination in his nephew's and Luna's eyes made him nod.
'Don't worry about me. I'll do it.'
As Johnny made his way through the secret passages toward the exterior, Luna and Donan prepared for the final part of the plan.
'This is where everything changes,' Donan said, taking a deep breath. 'Moldor will pay.'
Luna didn't respond immediately. She looked at him firmly, gripping his arm.
'It's not just about revenge, Donan. It's about saving the people we love. Don't lose sight of that.'
He nodded, and together they moved toward the room where Moldor was.
As they approached, Donan stopped in the passage, letting Luna take the lead. She entered silently, turning off the lights in the room. When Moldor finally appeared, drawn by the noise, he found himself in a darkened space, with the door quickly shut behind him.
'Welcome to the game again, Moldor,' Luna said, her voice echoing in the shadowy room.
Moldor turned, trying to locate the voice. The darkness seemed to swallow him whole.
'I guess the lesson from the first time at the academy wasn't enough. Let's see if you learn now.'
The silence that followed was the prelude to something much greater. Luna was ready for the final confrontation."