The air was thick with tension as Aspas returned to the refuge, Mira asleep in his arms, her tiny fingers gripping his shirt even in her dreams. Her quiet breaths were the only sound as he entered the underground sanctuary, his presence drawing every eye. Relief washed over the faces of the refugees, but behind it lurked fear and suspicion. They knew the truth—someone among them was a traitor.
Aspas laid Mira gently on a makeshift cot, pulling a tattered blanket over her tiny form. She stirred, her brow furrowing before settling back into peaceful slumber. He ran a hand through her tangled hair, his heart heavy. She deserved better than this cruel world. They all did.
Straightening, Aspas turned to find Joren watching him, guilt etched across his face. The scout's arm was hastily bandaged, blood seeping through the cloth. He looked like a man haunted by his own failure.
"They came too quickly," Joren said, his voice low and hollow. "They knew where to look… what to take. I couldn't stop them."
Aspas's eyes narrowed. "They knew because someone told them." He let the accusation hang in the air, the weight of his words pressing down on Joren. "Someone betrayed us."
Joren's eyes widened in shock, his face paling. "You think it was me?"
Aspas held his gaze, searching for any flicker of deception. But Joren's fear seemed genuine, his body trembling as he took a step back. "No… I swear, I would never—"
"Enough," Aspas interrupted, his voice cold. "If it wasn't you, then help me find out who it was." He turned to the room, his eyes scanning the gathered refugees. Mothers held their children close, elders whispered among themselves, and the younger ones exchanged uneasy glances. Trust was fragile, a delicate thread on the verge of snapping.
He knew the traitor was among them, watching, listening, waiting to strike again.
Aspas took a deep breath, steadying his voice. "Until we know who betrayed us, no one leaves. No one enters. We secure this place and we wait."
There were murmurs of fear, whispers of doubt, but no one argued. They trusted Aspas to protect them, even if they no longer trusted each other.
That evening, Joren stood before the gathered refugees, his voice firm but weary. "Whoever betrayed us put us all in danger. They took Mira. They could have killed her… killed us all. But there's a chance to make it right." His eyes scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of guilt. "If anyone knows anything—anything at all—come to me or Aspas. Your secret will be safe. And you will be rewarded."
A ripple of whispers spread through the room, eyes darting nervously. Suspicion and temptation danced in the air. Joren's promise echoed in their minds: safety, trust… and a reward. Who wouldn't want that in a world of chaos and fear?
"That person won't just be saving themselves," Joren continued, his voice softening. "They'll be saving all of us."
His words lingered long after he walked away, leaving behind a room filled with shadows and doubt.
That night, the refuge was cloaked in uneasy silence. Shadows danced along the crumbling walls as flickering candles fought against the darkness. Somewhere, water dripped steadily, a haunting echo that added to the tension.
Near the outer wall, two figures moved quietly, their small bodies slipping through the shadows. Caleb and Finn, brothers barely thirteen and fifteen, crept toward the fence that separated the sanctuary from the ruins outside. Their hearts raced with excitement and fear, their breaths shallow as they struggled to contain their nervous laughter.
"I just want to see the stars," Caleb whispered, his eyes wide with longing. "I barely remember what they look like."
Finn glanced back at the refuge, his expression torn. "Aspas said no one leaves… but it's just for a little while. No one will know."
They reached the fence, its rusty wires twisting ominously in the darkness. Finn crouched, his fingers finding a gap where the metal had loosened. "We'll be back before anyone notices."
He started to push through when a hand grabbed his collar, yanking him back with surprising force. He spun around, eyes wide in terror, only to find himself face-to-face with his mother, Alia. Her face was pale, her eyes blazing with anger and fear.
"What are you doing?" she hissed, her voice sharp but trembling. "Are you out of your minds?"
Caleb's lower lip quivered, his eyes filling with tears. "We… we just wanted to see the stars…"
Alia's shoulders sagged, her anger melting into desperation. She pulled both boys into a tight embrace, her body shaking. "Do you have any idea what would've happened if someone else had seen you?" Her voice broke, the words choked with emotion. "Do you understand what they would think?"
Finn's eyes widened, realization dawning. "They'd think… we were trying to escape…"
"Or worse," Alia whispered, her grip tightening. "They'd think you were the traitors."
The color drained from Caleb's face. "No… we're not… we'd never—"
"I know," Alia said, her voice cracking. "I know you wouldn't. But they wouldn't care. They're scared, looking for someone to blame. If Aspas had caught you…" She trailed off, her eyes flickering with fear. "He would've thought you were the ones who led the raiders here. He would've killed you without hesitation."
Her voice wavered, haunted by Joren's promise of reward. She remembered the flicker of greed she'd seen in some eyes when he spoke of it. What if someone had seen her boys? What if they were tempted to lie… for safety, for a reward?
She glanced over her shoulder, her heart skipping a beat as she thought she saw a shadow move. Had someone been watching? She couldn't be sure. And that uncertainty gnawed at her, cold and relentless.
"You must promise me… never do this again. Not until we're safe. Not until we know who the real traitor is."
Both boys nodded, their faces pale and solemn. They realized now how close they had come to death—not from the dangers outside, but from the fear and suspicion lurking within their own people.
Alia guided them back to their corner of the refuge, her heart heavy. She wrapped her arms around Caleb and Finn, her eyes scanning the shadows, searching for the unseen threat. They were lucky tonight. But luck wouldn't protect them forever.
The serpent was watching. And it was only a matter of time before it struck again