The carnival grounds were alive with a cacophony of sound—cheering crowds, clanging bells, and the melodic strains of a violin weaving through the night air. Rain moved through the chaos with practiced ease, her crimson cloak blending seamlessly into the tapestry of performers, merchants, and fire-breathers. To the untrained eye, she was just another part of the spectacle. But Rain was far more than she appeared.
Her heart raced, not from excitement, but from the gnawing sense of urgency. The hunters were close—too close. She had felt their presence in the shadows all week, a chill that clung to her even under the bright lights of the carnival. Kagan's forces were closing in, and tonight, she had no choice but to run.
The carnival had been her sanctuary for years, a family of outcasts who had taken her in and taught her how to survive. But even here, she was not truly safe. Her powers had begun to surface, flickering to life at the most inconvenient moments. A burst of fire in the middle of a rehearsal. An inexplicable gust of wind when she lost her temper. She couldn't control it yet, but she could feel its growing presence, a force waiting to be unleashed.
Rain ducked behind a row of brightly colored tents, her hand instinctively brushing the hilt of the dagger strapped to her thigh. It was a meager defense against what Kagan would send after her, but it gave her a sense of control in an otherwise chaotic world.
"Rain!"
She froze at the sound of her name, her head snapping toward the voice. It was Jax, the carnival's resident strongman and her closest friend. His hulking frame was silhouetted against the torchlight as he jogged toward her, concern etched across his broad face.
"Jax, you shouldn't be here," she hissed, pulling him into the shadows.
"Neither should you," he countered, his voice low but urgent. "I heard what the ringmaster said. He knows they're coming for you. He wants to turn you over to save the carnival."
Rain's stomach twisted. She had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed cut deeper than she expected. "I can't let them hurt anyone because of me," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions within her. "I have to leave. Tonight."
Jax grabbed her shoulder, his grip firm but gentle. "You're not going alone."
She shook her head. "You don't understand. They're not just soldiers, Jax. They're hunters. Vampires, wolves, creatures you've only heard about in nightmares. I won't drag you into this."
"You think I'm scared of some overgrown bats?" he said with a smirk, though the flicker of fear in his eyes betrayed him. "Rain, you're my family. I'm not letting you face this alone."
Before she could respond, a sharp whistle pierced the air. Rain's blood ran cold. It was the signal—a sound she had heard only once before, but one she would never forget.
"They're here," she whispered.
Jax looked around, his fists clenching. "Go. I'll buy you some time."
"No!" she protested, but Jax was already moving, stepping into the open with the confidence of someone who had nothing to lose.
Rain hesitated for a split second, torn between running and staying to help. But she knew Jax was right. If she didn't leave now, everything he was about to do would be in vain.
With a deep breath, she turned and sprinted toward the edge of the carnival grounds. Her boots barely made a sound as she navigated the maze of tents and wagons, her mind racing faster than her feet.
She reached the treeline just as the first scream echoed behind her. Rain didn't look back. She couldn't afford to. Tears blurred her vision, but she pushed forward, the weight of her choices pressing heavily on her chest.
The forest swallowed her whole, its shadows stretching out like the arms of an old friend. Rain knew it was only a temporary reprieve. The hunters would follow, relentless and unyielding.
But for now, she had escaped.
And somewhere deep inside her, the fire she had been trying to suppress flickered brighter than ever.