The night air was thick with tension, every breath Ashley took seemed to weigh heavily in her chest. The forest around them was eerily silent, the usual sounds of nocturnal life muted as if the world itself was holding its breath. The small team assembled in the shadows, each person carrying the weight of the night’s mission in their own way.Amelia stood beside Ashley, her hands trembling slightly as she adjusted the strap of the small bag slung over her shoulder. Inside were medical supplies, enough to keep Demon stable if things went south. Ashley glanced at her sister, worry flickering in her eyes. Amelia had always been the gentler of the two, more inclined to heal than to harm. But tonight, she would have to be ready for anything.Victor emerged from the darkness, his presence commanding as he surveyed the group. His face was a mask of calm control, but Ashley could see the fire in his eyes—the determination to see this through, no matter the cost.“Everyone in position?” he ask
The night seemed endless as Ashley, Amelia, and Victor staggered through the darkened halls of the compound. The taste of failure lingered bitterly in Ashley’s mouth, each step a reminder of how close they had come—only to be outmaneuvered by Adonis once again.Victor’s breathing was labored, and Ashley could see the pain etched on his face. He was losing blood quickly, and they had to move fast if they were going to get him out alive.“Victor, hang on,” Ashley urged, her voice tight with worry as she wrapped an arm around him to help support his weight.“I’m... fine,” Victor grunted, though the way he leaned heavily against her told a different story. “We need to keep moving. Can’t stop now.”Amelia hovered close, her face pale but determined. She kept a wary eye on their surroundings, her hand clutching a small knife she had picked up during the chaos. The compound was eerily silent now, the aftermath of the battle echoing in the air, but Ashley knew they weren’t safe yet.They roun
The moon hung high in the sky, casting eerie shadows as Ashley and Amelia made their way through the dense forest. The adrenaline that had fueled their escape was fading, replaced by an overwhelming exhaustion that weighed heavily on their limbs. Every step was a struggle, but Ashley knew they couldn’t stop—not yet. Not until they were sure they were safe.Amelia’s breathing was ragged, her face pale and streaked with tears. She hadn’t spoken a word since they left Demon’s lifeless body behind, her eyes haunted by the memory of what she had done. Ashley kept a firm grip on her sister’s hand, pulling her forward through the thick underbrush. She didn’t have the luxury of breaking down, not when they were still in danger.But even as they pushed on, Ashley’s mind was racing. She couldn’t shake the image of Demon’s face in his final moments—the mix of sorrow, disbelief, and something softer that had made her heart clench. Despite everything, despite the blood on his hands, there had been
The sun’s first light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Ashley watched the horizon, her mind racing with the weight of the decisions she had to make. Every moment spent in this temporary safety felt like an eternity, knowing that Adonis could be closing in on them with each passing second.She looked down at Amelia, who was curled up beside her, still lost in a fitful sleep. Her sister’s face was drawn and pale, the events of the previous night etched in lines of exhaustion and fear. It pained Ashley to see her like this, but she knew there was no time for comfort, no time for mourning. They had to keep moving.But where? The question gnawed at Ashley. They needed a plan, and they needed allies—someone they could trust, someone with the resources to help them disappear. As much as she hated to admit it, they couldn’t do this alone. Her thoughts drifted back to the few people who had once been part of their lives, before everything had spiraled
The forest was eerily silent as they moved, the only sounds coming from the rustling of leaves underfoot and the distant calls of birds. Ashley's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, the weight of the situation pressing down on her like a physical burden. Amelia walked beside her, her face pale and drawn, eyes flicking nervously from one shadow to another. Jackson led the way, his broad shoulders and steady gait a reassuring presence in the otherwise unsettling surroundings.As they made their way to the safe house, Ashley couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. The dense trees offered concealment, but they also concealed dangers, both seen and unseen. Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves, set her on edge, her heart pounding in her chest. She cast a glance at Amelia, whose expression mirrored her own anxiety. Amelia had been through so much already—too much. The thought of her sister suffering more was unbearable, and it fueled Ashley’s resolve to see this through, no matte
Ashley awoke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. It took a moment for her to remember where she was—safe, for now, in the small, nondescript safe house nestled deep within the forest. The events of the previous day came rushing back, and she glanced over at Amelia, who was still sleeping soundly beside her. The room was dim, with only the faintest light filtering through the cracks in the boarded-up windows. Outside, the forest was quiet, the morning mist hanging low in the air. But even the stillness couldn’t calm the storm of emotions raging inside her.Ashley slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake her sister. She needed a moment to collect herself, to think. The events of the past few weeks had left her reeling, and she was struggling to keep up. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of confusion, anger, and grief.She tiptoed out of the room and made her way to the small kitchen, where Jackson was already awake, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in
The night was cold as they moved through the silent city streets, their breaths visible in the frosty air. Ashley clutched the new passport tightly in her hand, the weight of it grounding her in the moment. This small booklet represented more than just a new identity—it was their lifeline, the key to a future free from the shadows of their past.Amelia walked beside her, her face pale but resolute. Jackson led the way, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. They had managed to avoid detection so far, but Ashley knew that every step they took brought them closer to the final, most perilous part of their journey.The smuggling route lay ahead, a dangerous path fraught with risks. It was a trail used by those desperate to escape, like them, and it was heavily guarded by mercenaries loyal to the highest bidder. But it was also their only chance, the only way out of the country without alerting Adonis to their movements.“Stay close,” Jackson murmured, his vo
The world was a haze of pain and darkness as Ashley drifted in and out of consciousness. Time lost all meaning; seconds felt like hours, and hours like days. Voices echoed around her, distant and distorted, as if she were underwater. She tried to focus, to cling to some sense of reality, but every attempt was met with a wave of pain that threatened to pull her back into the abyss.When she finally opened her eyes, she found herself in a small, dimly lit room. The walls were bare, the only furniture a single bed on which she lay and a rickety wooden chair in the corner. Her body ached all over, the sharp sting in her side a constant reminder of her injury. She tried to sit up, but the effort sent a jolt of agony through her torso, and she collapsed back onto the bed with a groan.The door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. It was Jackson, his face a mixture of relief and worry as he hurried to her side.“Ashley,” he said softly, kneeling beside the bed. “Thank God, you’re awake