The rain pounded against the earth, turning the ground to mud beneath Thomas's boots. His lantern flickered in the wind, casting long, wavering shadows that danced like specters around him.
Gideon stood just beyond the circle of light, his face obscured by the downpour. Yet, even in the darkness, Thomas could feel the weight of the man's gaze. It was like a predator watching its prey.
"You're persistent," Thomas said, his voice steady despite the knot tightening in his chest.
"And you're stubborn," Gideon replied, stepping closer. His features came into view a face weathered by time but devoid of warmth. His eyes glinted like steel. "I told you, Thomas. You can't escape what's coming."
Thomas tightened his grip on the rifle, though he didn't raise it. "Stay back."
Gideon chuckled, a low, humorless sound that sent a chill down Thomas's spine. "You think that old thing will save you? There are forces at work here that you can't begin to understand."
:-)
Inside the cabin, Lila held Aurora tightly. The girl's eyes were wide, her small hands clutching her mother's arm.
"Mama," Aurora whispered, her voice trembling. "The whispers are here."
Lila shushed her gently, though her own fear was palpable. She strained to hear through the storm, but all she could make out was the wind howling through the trees.
"Your father will handle it," she said, trying to reassure both her daughter and herself.
Aurora shook her head. "They don't want him. They want me."
The words hit Lila like a physical blow. She stared at her daughter, the truth dawning in her eyes.
:-)
Back outside, Gideon continued his slow advance. "You've always been a fool, Thomas," he said. "Running, hiding. It was only a matter of time before I found you."
Thomas raised the rifle, the barrel steady despite the shaking in his hands. "I won't let you take them."
"Take them?" Gideon smirked. "You misunderstand. I'm not here to take anyone. I'm here to deliver a message."
Thomas frowned, his grip tightening. "What message?"
Before Gideon could answer, a sudden gust of wind extinguished the lantern, plunging them into darkness. Thomas's heart raced as he stumbled back, the rain blinding him.
"Thomas!" Gideon's voice echoed through the storm, though it seemed to come from all directions at once. "You can't fight what's already inside her."
:-)
The storm's intensity seemed to double as Gideon's words faded into the night. Thomas swung the rifle around, but there was no sign of him. Only the rain and the shadows remained.
He turned and ran back to the cabin, his mind racing. What had Gideon meant? What was inside Aurora?
When he burst through the door, Lila jumped, her face pale. "What happened?" she asked.
Thomas set the rifle aside and knelt in front of Aurora. The girl looked at him with wide, frightened eyes.
"Sweetheart," he said gently. "Do you know what he meant?"
Aurora hesitated, then nodded. "I think so."
Her words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Lila sat down beside her, her hands trembling. "Aurora, what is it? What's inside you?"
"I don't know," Aurora said, her voice small. "But I can feel it. It's like... something is waking up."
Thomas exchanged a glance with Lila, his stomach churning. He had always known there was something special about Aurora, something different. But he had never imagined it would come to this.
"What does it feel like?" Lila asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aurora looked down at her hands, her brows furrowing in concentration. "It feels... warm. Like light. But sometimes it's scary. Like it wants to take over."
Thomas swallowed hard. "Have you felt it before?"
Aurora nodded. "When the bad men came to the village. I wanted to stop them, and then... it happened."
The room fell silent as the weight of her words settled over them. Thomas ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. He had heard stories of people with extraordinary abilities, legends passed down through generations. But he had never believed them.
"What do we do?" Lila asked, her voice trembling.
Thomas stood and began pacing. "We can't stay here. If Gideon found us, others will too. We need to keep moving."
"But where?" Lila demanded. "There's nowhere left to run."
Thomas stopped and looked at her, his jaw set. "Then we fight."