Dawn slowly broke, casting a faint light that barely pierced the gray sky. Ricky, Sophie, and Kieran continued their journey, leaving the small valley behind them. Before them, a range of towering mountains loomed like a massive wall, separating them from hope—or destruction.
There was no sound except the roar of the wind carrying dust and sand, creating the illusion that something was moving at the edges of their vision. Sophie stared at the distant, faint outline of the mountain peaks.
Sophie: "Do we really have to cross that?"
Kieran only glanced back without saying anything, signaling for them to keep moving. Ricky sensed something different in Kieran's demeanor more restless than before, as if he knew something he didn't want to reveal.
_______________
A few hours later, on the other side of the mountains…
Selene stood at the edge of a cliff, wearing a dark cloak that billowed in the wind. In her hand, a small device shaped like a prism glowed faintly with blue light. She activated it, creating a holographic map that displayed the positions of Ricky and Sophie.
Selene (whispering): "No one escapes the shadows."
Behind her, a group of fully armed soldiers waited for orders. Selene raised her hand, signaling for them to prepare. She knew this wasn't just a hunt it was a life-or-death game.
______________
In the middle of the journey…
Ricky felt something. The wind suddenly stopped, and small sounds began to emerge from the distance an unnatural rustling, like branches snapping for no reason.
Ricky: Whispering to Sophie. "Stop. Something's around us."
Sophie immediately crouched down, reaching for her knife. Kieran closed his eyes for a moment, listening carefully. He opened his eyes again, full of certainty.
Kieran: "We're trapped."
Before they could act, a small explosion from above the cliff sent a thick cloud of dust into the air. Ricky and Sophie quickly took cover behind a large rock.
The dust slowly settled. Through the thin haze, the sound of footsteps grew louder, approaching them. Ricky clenched his fists, ready to face whatever came.
Sophie (whispering): "Is this Draven's doing?"
Kieran: "No. It's worse. They were sent by Selene."
*****
Tension mounted as shadows moved closer. Ricky knew they had to act fast, but the question was: fight or flee?
To be continued in Chapter 5: Behind the Fog of Shadows