The safe house was an old, abandoned cabin hidden deep in the woods. No neighbours. No streetlights. Just trees and silence.
Alex pulled the car to a stop and killed the engine. The only sounds were the cooling metal of the car and the distant rustling of leaves.
Ellie hopped out first, gun in hand. She scanned the perimeter with sharp, practiced eyes. "Looks clear. But that won't last."
Maya hesitated before stepping out. She had been quiet since the tunnel, but Alex could tell her mind was racing.
"You good?" he asked.
She nodded, but her fingers clenched into fists.
Alex didn't push. They had bigger problems.
Ellie moved toward the cabin, testing the door. Locked. She pulled a knife from her boot, jammed it into the lock, and twisted. The door creaked open.
"After you," she said, stepping aside.
Alex and Maya entered first. The inside was musty, the air thick with dust. A single couch sat in the middle of the room, worn and faded. A fireplace, unused for years. No electricity. No comfort.
Maya sighed. "I've stayed in worse."
Ellie shut the door behind them. "We won't be here long."
Alex tossed his bag on the couch. "How long before they track us?"
Ellie leaned against the wall. "Depends. The Disciples don't just hunt—they stalk. They'll send scouts first. Watch us. Wait for the right time."
Maya exhaled. "So, we don't sleep."
Alex glanced at her. "You should rest while you can."
Maya met his gaze. "You think I can just close my eyes and pretend none of this is happening?"
He didn't answer.
Ellie checked her watch. "I'll take first watch. You two figure out who gets the floor."
Maya raised a brow. "And where are you sleeping?"
Ellie smirked. "I don't sleep, sweetheart."
Alex shook his head and grabbed his gun. "I'll check the back."
He stepped outside, the cool air hitting his skin. The woods stretched endlessly in all directions. No movement. No sound.
But something felt off.
Alex had spent years learning to trust his instincts. Right now, they screamed at him.
He wasn't alone.
A shadow moved in the trees.
Alex's grip tightened on his gun. He didn't raise it—yet.
Then, the whisper of a voice. Low. Cold.
"You shouldn't have taken her, Cross."
A figure stepped into view.
Tall. Dressed in black. Face obscured by a mask.
A Disciple.
Alex aimed. "You've got five seconds to walk away."
The man chuckled. "Five seconds is all I need."
He moved fast. Too fast.
Alex fired—
But the man was already gone.
The bullet hit nothing but air.
Then—pain. A sharp crack to the ribs sent Alex stumbling.
He recovered fast, swinging his gun—
Another hit. This time to his arm. His gun flew from his grip.
The Disciple was on him in seconds, pinning him against the wall of the cabin.
Alex struggled, but the guy was strong. Too strong.
The masked man leaned in, voice a whisper. "She belongs to us."
Alex growled. "Over my dead body."
The Disciple grinned. "That can be arranged."
Then, a gunshot.
The Disciple jerked back, blood spraying across the wooden wall.
Alex gasped for air and turned—
Maya stood there, gun smoking in her hands.
The Disciple staggered, then collapsed.
Dead.
Maya's hands trembled. She exhaled slowly, lowering the gun.
Alex wiped blood from his lip. "Nice timing."
Maya didn't respond right away. She just stared at the body.
Ellie stepped out of the cabin, gun raised. "The hell happened?"
Alex nodded toward the corpse. "Scout."
Ellie cursed under her breath. "That means more are coming."
Maya's voice was quiet. "He said I belonged to them."
Ellie's eyes darkened. "Then we burn the body. Make sure they know that's not true."
Alex picked up his gun, exhaling. "This just got a whole lot worse."
Ellie nodded. "And it's only the beginning."
They had just declared war.
And the Disciples would not take that lightly.