The days since our pact had been strange. Strange in a way that felt almost normal, if that made any sense. Tobias, Talia, Soren, and I had grown closer, spending nearly every waking moment together.
We'd chop firewood, share meals, and talk late into the night, our voices hushed as we plotted our escape.
It was the first time in what felt like forever that I didn't feel completely alone. For the first time, I had people I could trust—or at least, people I wanted to trust.
But even as we grew closer, the camp loomed over us like a shadow. The watchers were always there, their hooded figures lingering at the edges of my vision.
Father Gideon's presence was everywhere, his voice soft and soothing but carrying an undercurrent of something darker. And Elias… Elias was slipping further away. He spent more and more time with Father Gideon, his eyes lighting up every time the man spoke. It made my stomach churn, but I didn't know how to pull him back. Not yet.
Still, we had a plan. Or at least, the beginnings of one. Soren had been scouting the edges of the camp, mapping out the watchers' patrols. Talia had been gathering supplies—bits of rope, scraps of cloth, anything that might help us when the time came.
Tobias, despite his usual bluster, had been surprisingly useful, using his charm to distract the others while we worked. And me? I was the one holding it all together, or at least trying to.
But then, Soren disappeared.
It happened overnight. One moment, he was there, sitting with us by the fire, his sharp eyes scanning the camp as he quietly shared what he'd learned about the watchers' routines. The next, he was gone. At first, I didn't think much of it. Soren was quiet, reserved. He often slipped away without a word. But when he didn't show up for breakfast, a knot of unease settled in my chest.
By midday, the unease had turned to dread.
"Has anyone seen Soren?" I asked, my voice low as I approached Tobias and Talia near the fire pit.
Tobias shook his head, his usual smirk absent. "Not since last night. He said he was going to check something near the eastern edge of the camp, but that's it."
Talia frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "That's not like him. He's always been… careful. He wouldn't just vanish."
I nodded, my stomach twisting. Soren wasn't the type to disappear without a reason. And in a place like this, where people vanished without a trace, that reason was rarely a good one.
"We need to find him," I said, my voice firm. But deep down I suspected we wouldn't, after-all he was the one to tell me about the disappearances. Same fate might have awaited him.
Tobias and Talia exchanged a glance, then nodded. Without another word, we set off, moving through the camp with a sense of urgency that made my heart pound.
We asked everyone we passed—scavengers, cooks, even the hollow-eyed followers of the Risen. But no one had seen him. No one knew where he'd gone.
The camp felt different as we searched, the usual hum of activity replaced by an eerie stillness. The watchers seemed to be everywhere, their hooded figures lurking in the shadows, their eyes following us as we moved. It was like the camp itself was alive, watching, waiting.
Finally, we reached Soren's shack. It was small and unassuming, tucked away at the edge of the camp. The door was slightly ajar, creaking softly in the breeze. I pushed it open, my heart pounding as I stepped inside.
The shack was empty. Soren's few belongings were scattered across the floor—a tattered blanket, a small knife, a few scraps of paper. But there was no sign of him. No sign of a struggle. It was like he'd just… vanished.
"What the hell?" Tobias muttered, kicking aside a piece of cloth. "Where is he?"
Talia crouched down, picking up one of the scraps of paper. Her brow furrowed as she scanned the writing. "It's a note," she said, her voice tight. "It says… 'They noticed.'"
I froze, my blood running cold. "What?"
She held out the note, her hand trembling slightly. The handwriting was quick and shaky, the words barely legible. *They noticed.*
"What does that mean?" Tobias asked, his voice rising. "Who noticed? Noticed what?"
I didn't answer. My mind was racing, pieces falling into place with a sickening clarity. Soren had been careful, but not careful enough. He'd been asking too many questions, poking around where he shouldn't. And now… now he was gone.
Talia stood, her expression dark. "We need to get out of here. Now."
I nodded, but before I could respond, the door creaked open behind us. We turned as one, my heart leaping into my throat.
Father Gideon stood in the doorway, his dark eyes scanning the room. His expression was calm, almost serene, but there was something in his gaze that made my skin crawl.
"Rowan," he said, his voice smooth and soothing. "Talia. Tobias. What are you doing in Soren's shack?"
For a moment, no one spoke. The air felt heavy, suffocating. Then Talia stepped forward, her chin lifted in defiance. "We were looking for him. He's missing."
Father Gideon's expression didn't change. "Ah, yes. Soren. I'm afraid he's no longer with us."
My chest tightened. "What do you mean?"
Father Gideon sighed, his hands clasped in front of him. "Soren decided that he no longer wished to be a part of the Risen. He chose to return to the slums. It's a shame, but we must respect his decision."
The lie was so blatant, so absurd, that it took me a moment to process it. As if the watchers would just let him walk out of the camp, if it was so easy, I wouldn't be stuck here for so long.
Tobias stepped forward, his usual bravado replaced by a rare seriousness. "That's bullshit. Soren wouldn't just leave. Not without saying something."
Father Gideon's smile didn't waver. "I understand your concern, Tobias. But people change. Sometimes, they realize that this life isn't for them. It's… unfortunate, but it happens."
Talia's hands clenched into fists, her voice sharp. "You're lying."
For a moment, Father Gideon's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing slightly. But then the smile returned, as calm and serene as ever. "I assure you, I'm not. Soren made his choice. And now, you must make yours. Will you continue to question, to doubt? Or will you trust in the path I've laid out for you?"
The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. I wanted to scream, to lash out, to demand the truth. But I couldn't.
Father Gideon stepped back, his gaze sweeping over us one last time. "Think about it. The Risen offers salvation, but only to those who are willing to embrace it. Don't let doubt lead you astray."
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving us standing in the silence of Soren's empty shack.
For a long time, no one spoke. The weight of what had just happened settled over us, crushing and inescapable. Soren was gone. And we all knew the truth, even if we couldn't say it out loud.
Finally, Tobias broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "We're next, aren't we?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't. Because deep down, I knew he was right. The camp wasn't a sanctuary. It was a trap. And if we didn't get out soon, we'd disappear too.
Talia sank to the floor, her head in her hands. "What do we do?"
I didn't have an answer. All I had was a growing sense of despair, a darkness that threatened to swallow me whole.
But as I looked at Tobias and Talia, at the fear and determination in their eyes, I knew one thing for certain.
We couldn't give up. Not yet.
"We stick to the plan," I said, my voice firm despite the fear clawing at my chest. "We get out of here. Together."
Tobias nodded, his usual smirk absent. "Together."
Talia looked up, her green eyes blazing with a fierce determination. "Together."
But as we left Soren's shack and made our way back to the fire pit, the despair lingered, a shadow that refused to fade. The camp felt darker now, more oppressive. The watchers seemed closer, their eyes following us wherever we went.
And as I glanced toward the center of the camp, where Father Gideon stood surrounded by his followers, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were running out of time.
Soren was gone. And if we weren't careful, we'd be next.