The tunnel was too quiet.
Jarek hated it.
He could still hear the distant roar of the Vault Keeper's magic behind them, feel the lingering tension in his bones. The walls of the narrow passage were damp and jagged, carved from old stone.
Jarek turned to Sylva and Tobias. "Okay. Let's take a moment and appreciate that we are not dead."
Sylva wiped blood off her dagger. "We might still die."
Tobias groaned. "Can we save the optimism for later? My ribs feel like they lost a fight with a warhammer."
Jarek ignored him and checked his coat pocket.
The Amulet of Veilborn was still there. The second he touched it, a faint pulse of energy shivered through his fingers.
Jarek shuddered. Definitely cursed.
Sylva noticed. "Feeling sick?"
Jarek frowned. "It's… weird. Like it's trying to whisper in my head, but the words don't make sense."
Tobias sighed. "Lovely. First the Heart of Ruin, now an artifact whispering sweet nothings into your brain. You collect curses like trophies."
Jarek shrugged. "Some people collect coins. I collect life-threatening doom."
Sylva sheathed her daggers. "We need to move. If the Keeper finds us again, we won't be so lucky."
Jarek's jaw tightened. And Lena?
She was still back there—alone, holding off the Vault Keeper.
He clenched his fists. "We need to get back to her."
Sylva shook her head. "Going back now is suicide."
Jarek gritted his teeth. "So what? We just leave her?"
Tobias put a hand on his shoulder. "Jarek. She's not weak. She'll survive."
Jarek hated that he was right.
Lena was tough. Maybe tougher than him.
But he still felt like a coward for running.
Sylva motioned down the tunnel. "There's no turning back. We follow this path and regroup when we're out of danger."
Jarek sighed. "Fine. But the second we get out, we find her."
Sylva nodded. "Agreed."
They started moving.
A Path with No End
The tunnel stretched longer than expected.
Jarek hated underground spaces. It reminded him of traps, tombs, and bad decisions.
The deeper they went, the colder it became.
The damp stone walls turned slick, and the air grew thin.
Tobias coughed. "Anyone else feel like they're breathing in ghosts?"
Jarek muttered. "I was trying not to think about it."
Sylva ran a hand along the walls. "Something's off."
Jarek frowned. "Define 'off.'"
Sylva tapped the stone. "This tunnel wasn't just a collapse. It was made."
Tobias raised an eyebrow. "So?"
Sylva's gaze darkened. "So someone built it for a reason."
Jarek really didn't like that.
Then, ahead of them—
A soft glow flickered.
Jarek froze. "…Please tell me that's not an undead murder-spirit."
Sylva squinted. "No. It's firelight."
Jarek tensed. Not sure that's better.
They moved carefully, inching toward the light.
As they neared the end of the tunnel, Jarek peeked around the corner.
What he saw made his stomach drop.
A massive cavern stretched before them, its ceiling lost in darkness. Dozens of torches lined the rocky walls, their flames flickering.
And in the center—
A camp.
Tents, crates, and figures in dark robes moved between them. Some were sharpening weapons. Others were inspecting old relics.
Tobias whispered. "Please tell me we did not just stumble into an assassin hideout."
Jarek exhaled. "We absolutely did."
A Familiar Enemy
Sylva cursed. "They're from the Black Dagger Syndicate."
Jarek winced. "Yeah, I remember them. Mostly the trying to kill me part."
Tobias groaned. "Of course we end up here. Why wouldn't we?"
Jarek's mind raced.
The Black Dagger Syndicate was one of the deadliest organizations in the underworld. If they were camping beneath the vault, it meant something big was happening.
And worse—
They might already know they're here.
Jarek took a slow breath. "Alright. Best-case scenario?"
Sylva muttered. "We sneak past them."
Tobias sighed. "Worst case?"
Jarek grimaced. "We die violently."
Tobias muttered. "I hate this plan."
Sylva motioned forward. "Stay low. Move fast."
They started creeping through the cavern.
They stuck to the shadows, weaving between crates and tents.
Jarek's heart pounded.
One wrong step, one flicker of movement, and—
A voice cut through the silence.
"Stop."
Jarek froze.
The air grew tense.
Slowly, he turned.
A man stood behind them, clad in black and silver armor. His dark eyes gleamed like sharpened steel.
Jarek's gut sank.
He knew that face.
The man smirked. "Well, well."
He stepped forward, drawing a long, curved blade.
"It's been a while, Jarek Thorn."
Sylva stiffened. "You know him?"
Jarek exhaled.
"Yeah."
His throat felt dry.
"This is Caden Voss. And he really wants me dead."
Memories of Betrayal
Caden tilted his head, amusement flickering in his dark gaze.
"It's been too long, Jarek."
Jarek's grip tightened on his sword. "Not long enough."
Caden chuckled. "Still bitter about our last encounter?"
Tobias whispered. "I feel like I missed some very important context."
Jarek ignored him.
His mind flicked back—years ago.
To a job that had gone horribly wrong.
Caden had been his partner, once. They had worked jobs together, stolen priceless artifacts—until Caden had decided to double-cross him.
Jarek had barely escaped with his life.
Now, here he was.
Alive. Smirking. And standing in their only way out.
Sylva whispered. "We can take him."
Jarek didn't look away from Caden. "I wish it were that simple."
Caden smiled. "I'd love to chat, but my patience runs thin. Give me the amulet, Jarek."
Jarek chuckled. "Yeah, that's a hard no."
Caden sighed. "Pity."
He moved fast.
Jarek barely blocked in time—his sword clashing with Caden's curved blade. Sparks flew.
Caden pressed forward, stronger than Jarek remembered.
Jarek gritted his teeth. This wasn't a fight they could win.
They needed a way out.
Fast.