The forest was thick, and the only sound was the rhythmic crunch of leaves beneath their feet. Serena's breath was sharp, quick, as she and Aiden pushed through the trees, adrenaline pumping.
She glanced over at him, eyes narrowed with focus. "We need to find a way out, now."
Aiden didn't reply, his eyes scanning the surroundings. They had a small head start, but the woman—whoever she was—wasn't far behind.
"Stay close," Aiden muttered, pulling the briefcase tighter to his chest. He reached into his jacket, pulling out a small, sleek pistol.
Serena's heart raced at the sight, but she didn't flinch. She had learned long ago that this world wasn't kind to the unprepared.
---
They moved through the woods in near silence, their eyes constantly flicking around them, but every now and then, a twig would snap underfoot, causing both of them to freeze. The quiet was suffocating, each moment stretched thin with the tension of the hunt.
Aiden stopped suddenly, crouching low behind a large boulder. He motioned for Serena to join him.
"We're not alone," he whispered, eyes scanning the forest line.
Serena's pulse quickened. "What do you mean?"
"There's something wrong," Aiden murmured, his gaze darting to the trees. "I can feel it."
They had been running for miles, but the sense of being hunted, of being watched, hadn't eased. In fact, it only seemed to grow stronger.
Serena swallowed hard. She was no stranger to danger, but something about this felt different—like the shadows themselves were closing in on them.
A low growl from the trees had both of them jerking their heads toward the sound.
A figure emerged from the darkness, and it wasn't just anyone—it was the woman from the docks.
She stepped forward, unbothered by the dark, as if she'd been stalking them for hours.
Aiden's grip on the pistol tightened. "Stay behind me," he said, his voice firm, almost protective.
Serena didn't move. Instead, she took a step forward, staring the woman down.
"Not so fast," the woman said, her voice smooth, almost too calm. "You have something I want."
Serena's eyes narrowed. "And what would that be?"
"The briefcase," the woman replied simply, her expression unreadable.
"I don't think you'll be getting it today," Aiden said, his finger twitching near the trigger.
The woman's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "I think you'll find that I always get what I want."
In an instant, the woman's movements blurred. She darted toward them, faster than any normal person could move.
Aiden's pistol fired, the bullet slicing through the air, but the woman was already gone, a shadow disappearing into the night.
Before Aiden could react, the woman reappeared behind him, her arm outstretched with a blade glinting in the moonlight.
"Damn it!" Aiden grunted as he barely ducked, but the blade slashed across his side, tearing through his jacket and skin.
Serena's eyes widened in horror, but before she could make a move, the woman spun toward her.
"You're in my way," the woman hissed, voice dripping with venom.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment as Serena's mind raced. She'd been in tight spots before, but this was different. This wasn't just about survival—it was about power.
And this woman had it.
---
A sharp breath escaped Serena's lips as she jumped into action. She grabbed a thick branch from the ground, swinging it at the woman. But the woman ducked, her movements fluid and precise.
Serena's heart pounded as the woman closed in on her. Every instinct screamed to fight back, but this woman was a predator—a trained killer.
Aiden, wounded but not out, lunged forward, grabbing the woman's arm and pulling her back just enough for Serena to catch her breath.
"You're not getting away with this," Aiden growled, blood dripping from his side.
The woman chuckled, as though enjoying the dance. "You'll find that I'm hard to kill."
Serena's mind raced. They needed to get out of there. They couldn't keep fighting her in the woods.
With one last desperate move, Serena swung the branch again, this time connecting with the woman's shoulder. The impact threw the woman off balance, just long enough for Aiden to shove her away.
"Run!" Aiden shouted to Serena, his voice urgent.
Serena didn't need to be told twice. Without hesitation, she turned and bolted in the opposite direction, the sounds of the woman's taunting laughter ringing in her ears.
---
They ran for what felt like hours, adrenaline fueling every step. But the woods were dense, the path unfamiliar, and the woman's presence seemed to be everywhere. The branches seemed to shift in the wind, whispering threats and warnings in the darkness.
Serena's legs burned, but she pushed forward, refusing to let fear control her. She couldn't afford to slow down. Not now.
Ahead, she saw a faint light—a cabin, maybe? A safe place? She didn't care. All she knew was that she had to keep moving.
But just as she was about to reach the clearing, she felt a hand grip her wrist from behind.
She spun around to find Aiden, his face pale and bloodied, struggling to catch his breath.
"I'm not leaving you," he said hoarsely.
Before Serena could reply, there was a loud crash from the trees.
The woman was back.