Kael ran through the forest, the rain drenching him to the bone. His heart thudded in his chest, each breath coming harder than the last. The sound of heavy footsteps was getting closer, and Kael knew he didn't have much time. His bag—still holding the artifact—bounced against his back with every step, its weight a constant reminder of the danger he was in.
The trees around him blurred as the storm grew worse. The wind whipped the rain sideways, making it hard to see. But Kael had grown up in the wild. He knew how to navigate by instinct, and right now, his instincts were screaming at him to keep moving.
Behind him, the growl of engines roared through the forest. The corporate hunters were getting closer. Kael didn't need to look to know that they were on his trail. Their sleek, black vehicles had powerful scanners that could track him through the thickest of forests. They wouldn't stop until they had the artifact, and they wouldn't care who got in their way.
Kael had to get out of here.
The trees began to thin out ahead, and Kael pushed himself harder, weaving between the trunks. He had to find cover, somewhere to hide. His mind raced, but all he could focus on was staying ahead of the hunters. He had the artifact. And if he could just get it to Lyra, they could figure out what to do next.
A sudden crack of thunder split the sky, and the ground beneath Kael's feet trembled as a bolt of lightning struck nearby. He stumbled but caught himself just in time. The rain was blinding now, and every step felt heavier as the storm raged around him.
Then, ahead, Kael saw it—a cliff. The edge of a ravine that dropped sharply into darkness. His heart skipped a beat.
He had no choice.
Kael veered toward the cliff, and without hesitating, he leapt, pushing himself off the ground as the rain battered his face. His boots slipped on the muddy edge, but he landed hard on the narrow ledge below. His knees buckled, but he quickly regained his footing. The drop was dizzying, but the only way forward was down.
He didn't have time to look back. The roar of the engines was getting closer, the sound vibrating in his bones. They were right behind him.
Kael didn't stop to think. He moved along the ledge, his hands gripping the jagged rock face as he found his footing in the slick mud. His body screamed for rest, but he couldn't stop. Not yet.
The cliff wasn't as steep as it seemed from above. As Kael descended, the rocky ledge gave way to a narrow cave, dark and inviting.
He stumbled into the cave, his breath ragged. The storm roared outside, but inside, there was only silence. Kael collapsed against the cold stone, his chest heaving, his eyes closed. The storm outside couldn't touch him here. For a moment, he allowed himself to rest. He needed it.
Then, his earpiece buzzed.
"Kael, are you okay?!" It was Lyra again, her voice cutting through the static.
"I'm fine," Kael panted, wiping the rain from his face. "I've got it. I've got the artifact. But I'm being chased."
"You need to get to the safe house," Lyra urged. "It's the only place where we can figure out what to do next. I can't protect you out there, not with them closing in. You've got to get off the grid."
Kael knew she was right. He couldn't keep running forever. If the corporate forces found him, it would all be over.
"I'm heading there now," Kael said. "Keep the channel open. I'll need backup."
"I'll keep watch," Lyra replied. "Just don't let them catch you."
Kael nodded, even though she couldn't see him.
He slipped out of the cave, moving quickly through the rain, the weight of the artifact in his pack a constant reminder of the stakes. The safe house was not far now. It was the only place that could offer him any chance at safety.
As Kael moved through the night, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him—something beyond the hunters, beyond the storm. But he couldn't stop. Not now.