Serena's heart hammered in her chest as she backed up toward the clearing, the eerie shadows of the trees stretching around her, She could feel the tension rising, her breath catching in her throat as the woman advanced with deliberate steps, each one calculated and lethal.
"You can't run from me forever," the woman's voice slithered through the night, cold and menacing.
Serena clenched her fists. She'd been in close calls. before, but this was different. This wasn't just about getting away-it was about survival.
Alden stood beside her, blood staining his jacket, but his eyes were filled with fire, He wouldn't let this woman take them down, Not now, Not ever,
"I've been hunting you for too long, the woman continued, her voice tinged with something dark, Something almost personal, "You have something I need, and I'm not leaving without it."
Serena's eyes flickered to the briefcase still clutched tightly in Aiden's hands. It was the key to all of this. They couldn't let her take it, Not if they wanted to live.
Alden's Jaw clenched, his hand tightening around the pistol, "You're not getting it."
The woman's lips curled into a cruel smile, "We'll see about that,"
She lunged, faster than a striking snake, but Serena was ready, She dove to the side, grabbing a jagged rock and swinging it toward the woman's head. It wasn't much, but it was enough to throw her off course.
The woman hissed, stumbling back, but only for a second. She was relentless, and Serena could see it in her eyes this wasn't about the briefcase anymore. It was personal.
"Come on!" Serena shouted, turning to Alden, "We need to go, Now!"
Alden nodded, his gaze hard. He grabbed Serena's ann and pulled her toward the cabin, But before they could make it more than a few feet, the woman was back in front of them, faster than they could react.
She blocked their path with a grin, "You can run," she said, "but you'll never outrun me."
Alden's grip tightened on Serena's wrist as he pulled her behind him, "Stay behind me," he growled, raising the pistol.
But the woman wasn't intimidated. She moved with the precision of a predator, sidestepping Aiden's shots as if she knew exactly where they were going to land.
"I've been waiting for this moment," she said softly, her voice chilling, "I don't want to kill you. But I will if 1 have to,"
Serena's blood ran cold. It wasn't just a threat. This woman wasn't playing games-she was willing to do whatever it took to get what she wanted.
With a flick of her wrist, the woman's blade flashed in the moonlight, She was ready for the kill.
But Serena wasn't going to let that happen,
She lunged forward, throwing her body into the woman's side, knocking her off balance for a split second. It was enough.
Alden didn't hesitate, He pulled the trigger again, this time landing a shot that grazed the woman's arm.
She shrieked, stepping back, but her eyes remained locked on them. "You're making a mistake."
The cabin was just a few yards away now, and Serena could see the door slightly ajar. It was their only chance.
She turned to Alden, "We can't let her catch us. We need to get inside and lock the door,"
He nodded, but before they could make their move, the woman was back, standing between them and their goal.
"You really think you can escape?" the woman sneered. "You can't hide forever."
Serena's mind raced. There had to be a way out of this, They couldn't keep running forever, but neither could they fight her head-on,
Aiden glanced at her, his eyes intense, "We need to make a deal," he said suddenly.
"A deal?" Serena asked, confused, "With her?"
"Just trust me."
Alden turned to the woman, his voice steady. "We'll give you what you want, but you have to promise you'll let us go."
The woman's eyes narrowed. "And why would I trust you?"
"Because I'm the only one who can help you get what you want," Alden said, his tone dripping with conviction, "You don't want to kill us, You need us, I know who you work for,"
For a moment, there was silence, The woman's eyes flickered between them, and Serena could see the conflict in her expression.
"What's the deal?" she asked, finally lowering her weapon slightly.
"We'll give you the briefcase," Alden said, "But only if you leave us alive. No more hunting, no more games. Just let us go, and you'll have it all."
The woman's lips twisted into a smirk. "And why should I believe you?"
"Because we're offering you something no one else can, Alden replied. "And because if you don't, I'll make sure you regret it."
Serena's heart raced, her thoughts a blur, Alden was negotiating their lives with the woman who had been chasing them for days. Could she trust him? Was this the right move?
The woman paused, her eyes cold and calculating, But then, slowly, she lowered her blade completely.
"Fine," she said, "You've got a deal, But remember, I'm not the one who's going to make sure you're safe,"
With a final glance at them, she turned and melted into the darkness, leaving them standing in the cold night air,
Serena let out the breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding, "What Just happened?"
Alden smiled faintly, though his eyes were still filled with wariness, "We made a deal with the devil,"
And Serena knew, deep down, that this wouldn't be the last time they'd face this woman. The real danger had only just begun.
That's Chapter 6. Things are heating up and now we have some serious tension between Aiden, Serena, and that woman. The stakes are getting higher, and I'm ready to keep going when you are! Just hit me up anytime for the next chapter!