The figure's lunge caught them off guard. Aiden barely had time to react as the stranger moved with the speed of a shadow, dodging his strike and tackling him to the wet ground. Serena froze for a second, trying to process the situation, but her instincts kicked in. Without thinking, she raised her weapon and fired.
The shot rang out through the storm, echoing through the forest, but the figure was gone before the sound had even fully registered. It was like they had melted into the shadows, disappearing into the thick night air.
"Aiden!" Serena screamed, rushing to his side. He was sprawled on the ground, but he was still conscious, pushing himself up with one hand. Blood seeped through his jacket, a fresh cut on his arm.
"I'm fine," Aiden muttered, gritting his teeth. "But we need to move. Now."
Serena could see the pain in his eyes, but she didn't argue. They had no time to waste. The stranger's warning had been clear—there was no escaping what was coming. But Serena couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a random encounter. Whoever this was, they had been waiting for them. They knew exactly where they were, and they weren't going to stop until they were caught.
"Which way?" Serena asked, her voice urgent, her eyes scanning the dark, rain-soaked path ahead.
Aiden, still shaking off the shock, looked up at the trees and then back to Serena. "The safe house is just a little further. We need to get to higher ground. If we stay low, we might have a chance."
They didn't speak again as they moved quickly, their footsteps muffled by the heavy downpour. The cold rain soaked their clothes, the chill seeping into their bones. Every sound felt amplified in the silence of the forest—each footstep, each breath, every rustle in the trees.
They pushed forward, barely noticing the pain or exhaustion that pulled at their muscles. Aiden's injury was bleeding more than he'd let on, but Serena could tell he was trying to keep his focus on the task ahead. It was clear this wasn't just a mission anymore—it was survival.
"Stay close," Aiden warned as they made their way deeper into the forest. "Don't let anyone get between us."
Serena nodded, keeping her gaze trained ahead but her ears alert to every movement. The figure from before could be anywhere, and there was no telling if more people were on their tail.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the edge of the forest. The safe house loomed ahead, a small, weathered cabin that had been abandoned for years. It was secluded, tucked away in a valley surrounded by hills. But even as they approached, Serena couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
They were being watched.
She turned to Aiden. "Something's not right."
Aiden nodded, his jaw clenched. "I know. But we don't have a choice. We're too exposed out here."
They entered the cabin cautiously, weapons raised, eyes darting around the dark interior. The air inside was stale, and the place was filled with old furniture covered in dust, but there was no sign of any immediate threat. Still, the tension in the air was palpable.
"We need to secure the perimeter," Aiden said. "I'll take the back. You cover the front."
Serena nodded, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She didn't want to be here—not in this place, not in this moment. But the stakes were too high. They couldn't afford to make a mistake now.
As she moved toward the front window, she heard Aiden's voice behind her.
"Serena, I need you to stay focused. This isn't just about us anymore. If we don't figure this out, we're done."
Serena's heart skipped a beat at the gravity in his voice. They had been through so much already, but this was different. Whoever was coming for them, they weren't stopping until they got what they wanted.
She stared out into the night, her eyes straining to see through the torrential rain, but all she could make out was the shifting darkness. Nothing was clear, and yet, everything felt wrong.
"Do you think we can trust anyone anymore?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Aiden didn't respond immediately, but when he did, his voice was heavy with uncertainty. "I don't know. But we don't have a choice. We need to keep moving forward."
As the rain continued to pour down outside, the sound of it pattering on the roof was the only thing that filled the silence. But it didn't feel peaceful. It felt like the calm before the storm.
---
An hour passed in uneasy quiet. Aiden had managed to tend to his wound, but his focus was razor-sharp, always scanning, always aware of every creak of the floorboards, every gust of wind that rattled the old windows. Serena couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. And sure enough, just as she turned her attention to the door, she heard it.
A knock. Soft, almost hesitant.
Serena tensed, her eyes snapping to Aiden, who motioned for her to stay back. He slowly approached the door, weapon in hand. He peered through the small crack, and his face went pale.
"They found us," he muttered.
Serena's heart hammered in her chest. She didn't need to ask who was out there. She knew it was the woman. She had sent more people to hunt them down.
Aiden didn't hesitate. He grabbed Serena's arm and pulled her back toward the small hallway leading to the back exit.
"Move!" he hissed.
But it was too late.
The door splintered open with a single violent blow. A figure stepped inside, their silhouette dark against the storm, and with a chilling voice, they spoke:
"You can't run forever."
---
End of Chapter 10.
---