Chapter Eight

The evening sky was painted in hues of orange and purple as the group continued their journey through the forest. Carly’s feet ached with every step, but she pushed through the pain. They had been walking all day, and every minute felt like an hour. The boy’s small hand clutched tightly to hers, his fear palpable. 

The trees around them grew denser, casting long shadows that stretched ominously across their path. Every rustle of leaves made Carly’s heart jump, and every snap of a twig set her on edge. The forest felt alive, as though it were watching them, waiting for the right moment to strike.

“We need to rest,” one of the warriors whispered, his voice barely audible. 

Carly shook her head. “We can’t stop now. We’re too close.” She didn’t know exactly where they were going, but she knew they had to keep moving. Stopping now meant risking their lives. 

The warrior didn’t argue. He knew Carly was right. They had all seen what was out there. Andrew’s pack was relentless, and they wouldn’t stop until they had hunted them down. 

As they pressed on, the air grew colder, and the forest became even darker. Carly’s breath fogged in front of her, and she pulled the boy closer to keep him warm. The silence was thick, almost suffocating, and it was starting to get to her. 

Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the trees, and Carly froze. The warriors immediately drew their weapons, their eyes scanning the surrounding woods. Carly held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. 

A shadow moved in the corner of her vision, and she whipped around, her grip tightening on the boy’s hand. The shadow darted between the trees, too fast to follow. 

“There’s something out there,” Carly whispered, her voice trembling. 

The lead warrior nodded grimly. “Stay close, and be ready to run.”

They continued forward, moving as quietly as they could. Carly’s senses were on high alert, every sound magnified in the silence. The shadows seemed to grow larger, closing in around them. 

Then, without warning, a figure stepped out from behind a tree, blocking their path. Carly’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized the familiar face. 

It was Andrew.

He stood tall, his eyes gleaming with malice as he surveyed the group. “Going somewhere?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. 

Carly’s blood ran cold. She knew they were trapped. There was no way they could fight Andrew and his pack, not in the dark, not in their weakened state. 

Andrew took a step forward, and Carly instinctively stepped back, pulling the boy behind her. The warriors moved to form a protective circle around them, but Carly knew it was futile. They were outmatched.

“Give up now, and I might let some of you live,” Andrew sneered, his eyes fixed on Carly.

Carly swallowed hard, her mind racing. She couldn’t let him take them. But what could she do? They were surrounded, and there was no escape.

As if sensing her despair, the boy stepped forward, his small frame trembling with fear but determined. “Leave us alone!” he shouted, his voice breaking.

Andrew’s expression darkened, and he let out a low growl. “You think you can challenge me, boy?”

Before Carly could react, Andrew lunged forward, his hand outstretched toward the boy. But just as he was about to grab him, a blinding light erupted from the boy’s hand, sending Andrew flying backward.

Carly gasped in shock, her eyes wide as she watched the light envelop Andrew, his body convulsing as he struggled to fight it off. The warriors stood frozen, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Andrew let out a howl of pain as the light intensified, and for a moment, Carly thought he might be defeated. But then, just as suddenly as it had started, the light vanished, and Andrew slumped to the ground, breathing heavily.

Carly didn’t waste a second. “Run!” she screamed, grabbing the boy’s hand and bolting into the forest. The others followed suit, their feet pounding against the earth as they fled deeper into the woods.

They ran until their legs gave out, collapsing in a small clearing. Carly’s heart was racing, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. The boy was trembling beside her, his eyes wide with fear.

“What was that?” one of the warriors asked, his voice shaking. 

Carly shook her head, still trying to process what had happened. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But whatever it was, it saved us.”

The group sat in silence, the weight of what they had just witnessed heavy in the air. Carly could feel the fear gnawing at her insides, but there was also something else—a flicker of hope. 

Maybe they still had a chance. 

But as the night wore on, that flicker of hope began to fade. They were still in enemy territory, and they knew Andrew wouldn’t give up so easily. The light had bought them some time, but they couldn’t stay hidden forever.

Carly’s mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan. They needed to find a safe place, somewhere they could regroup and figure out their next move. But where? And how would they get there without being caught?

As if reading her thoughts, the boy suddenly spoke up. “There’s a place,” he said quietly, his voice shaking. “A cave, not far from here. My parents used to take me there when I was little. It’s hidden, safe.”

Carly looked at him, hope sparking in her chest. “Can you take us there?”

The boy nodded, though he still looked terrified. “I think so.”

The warriors exchanged glances, and Carly could see the uncertainty in their eyes. But what choice did they have? It was the best lead they had.

“Alright,” Carly said, her voice firm. “We’ll go at first light.”

The group settled in for the night, though sleep was hard to come by. Carly lay awake, her mind racing with thoughts of what had happened, and what was still to come. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, that danger was lurking just beyond the trees.

When morning finally came, they set off again, following the boy’s lead. The forest seemed even more foreboding in the daylight, every shadow a potential threat. But the boy was determined, and Carly couldn’t help but admire his bravery.

After what felt like hours of walking, they finally reached the cave. It was hidden behind a thick curtain of vines, nearly invisible unless you knew where to look. Carly breathed a sigh of relief as they ducked inside, the cool darkness a welcome reprieve from the oppressive heat outside.

But the relief was short-lived. As they settled in, a low growl echoed from the depths of the cave, freezing them in their tracks. Carly’s heart skipped a beat as she realized they weren’t alone.

Out of the darkness, a pair of glowing eyes appeared, followed by a massive figure. Carly’s blood turned to ice as she recognized the creature—a rogue werewolf, its fur matted and its eyes filled with madness.

The warriors immediately drew their weapons, but Carly knew it wouldn’t be enough. The rogue was too strong, too fast. And they were trapped.

The rogue let out a deafening roar and lunged at them, its claws extended. Carly barely had time to react as the creature bore down on them, its jaws snapping inches from her face.

Time seemed to slow as Carly’s mind raced, trying to find a way out. But there was none. They were cornered, and there was no escape.

Then, just as all hope seems lost, the boy stepped forward again, his eyes glowing with that same golden light. Carly watched in awe as the light enveloped the rogue, its roar turning into a whimper as it was forced back.

But the boy was struggling. Carly could see the strain on his face, the way his body trembled with the effort. He wouldn’t be able to hold the rogue off for long.

“Help him!” Carly shouted to the warriors, her voice filled with urgency.

The warriors rushed forward, attacking the rogue with everything they had. But the creature was relentless, fighting back with a fury that was terrifying to behold.

Carly felt her heart sink as she watched the battle unfold. They were losing. The boy was weakening, and the rogue was getting closer. 

Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, the boy let out a scream, and the light flared brighter than ever before. The rogue was thrown back with a force that shook the cave, slamming into the wall with a sickening crunch.

And then, just as suddenly as it had started, the light vanished, and the boy collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Carly rushed to his side, her heart pounding in her chest. “Wake up!” she cried, shaking him gently. But the boy didn’t respond, his small body limp and lifeless.

One of the warriors knelt beside her, checking the boy’s pulse. “He’s alive,” the warrior said, relief evident in his voice. “But he’s weak. He needs rest.”

Carly nodded, tears of relief streaming down her face. They had survived. But at what cost? The boy had saved them again, but how many more times could he do it? And what was this power he had? 

As Carly looked around at the exhausted faces of her companions, she knew their journey was far from over. They had found a temporary refuge, but they couldn’t stay here forever. The rogue’s attack was a painful reminder.