Chapter 69: A Dangerous Journey Lucas POV

"You have inquiries," Elara began, her voice piercing the stillness of the deserted town hall. With her arms crossed across her chest, she leaned against the collapsing wall. Her face was lit by the dim light of morning, giving her a tired yet determined appearance. "So ask them."

An invitation wasn't necessary. "Really, who are you?" I stepped forward and ordered. "You suddenly appear, offer to help, and then take us to a refuge that no one has ever heard of. What is your point of view?"

She did not flinch, but her eyes narrowed. "I've already named myself. Elara is my name, and I have spent years avoiding the rogues. I can only live by helping others like you."

"Convenient," I mumbled, unconsciously crossing my arms. "And what happens when you are caught by the rogues? Or worse, when you're the reason they catch us?"

"Lucas," The tension was broken by Anna's strong yet gentle voice. "Give her a chance to speak."

I looked at Anna, who had a determined yet tired look on her face. She wanted to have faith in Elara, but I was unable to provide that luxury. Not quite yet.

Elara completely ignored me as her eyes got softer when she turned to face Anna. She said, "You have a right to know the truth. But the story isn't pretty."

Her footsteps echoed softly in the empty room as she started to pace. "I wasn't a criminal all the time. I used to be a part of a pack. A strong one. However, enemies are born of strength, and ours was no different. Our area was attacked one night. It wasn’t just a fight; it was a murder. The rogues wiped out everyone they could find."

Anna gasped softly, her hand shooting to her mouth. I sat mute, my eyes fixated on Elara, looking for any sign of dishonesty.

"I was young," Elara continued, her voice tinted with anger. "Barely more than a pup. I hid while my family fought. When everything ended, I was the only one left. The rogues took me in, taught me to be one of them. They said it was survival, but I knew better. They expected obedience, loyalty. I didn't give them either."

I said in a cold tone, "So you ran."

She gave a nod. "I took off running. Since then, I've started running. I can only fight back by helping people who are like me—those who don't belong or fit in."

"And this place of refuge?" Anna's question was hardly heard above a whisper. "What is it?"

Elara paused, her gaze darting to the door as though she thought someone would suddenly enter. "People like us can gather there, make plans, and recover. Although it's not flawless, it's safe."

"How long is it safe?" I replied. "The rogues will eventually find it if they are as persistent as you claim."

With a hint of sadness in her voice, she said, "Maybe. It's better than nothing, though."

Silence fell upon the room as the weight of her story hung over us like a shroud. Although I couldn't trust her, there was an unvarnished honesty in her comments that was difficult to overlook.

"Why now?" I broke the silence by asking. "Why assist us?"

Elara's steady, unrelenting look met mine. "Because it's important. Additionally, no one else will if I don't."

The sun had fully risen by the time she concluded her story, and the room was covered with deep shadows. Dusting off her hands, Elara stood. "I've done my best. You are responsible for the rest."

"What do you mean?" With a furrowed face, Anna asked.

"I can't stay," Elara stated in a serious tone. "The rogues will notice if I stop for an extended amount of time. They will search, and if they find me with you..." The connotation was clear even though she did not finish the sentence.

"You're just going to leave?" I demanded as my anger boiled over. "After pulling us outside?"

With fiery eyes, she shot back, "I didn't drag you anywhere. You chose to come. You now have a choice to make. You can either continue running or stay here and decide what to do next. You're on your own in either case."

Anna moved forward and spoke in a shaky voice. "Elara, hold on. You don't have to work alone on this."

Elara shook her head, but her face softened. "Yes, I do. It's the only choice." Her eyes hardened as she gave me a quick look. "Lucas, keep her safe. Or don't. You can also choose that."

Her footsteps faded into the distance as she turned and left the room without saying another word. She left behind a startling quiet.

Anna's shoulders slumped as she sat down hard on the cot. Her voice was almost inaudible as she said, "What now?"

I had nothing to say. My senses begged me to keep going in order to avoid the danger that seemed to be hanging over me from every direction. However, the fact that we had no other option was undeniable.

At last, I muttered in a hoarse voice, "We can't stay here long. Eventually, the outlaws will discover this spot."

Anna raised her gaze to me, uncertainty shining in her eyes. "Where are we going? Back into the forest? Lucas, for what purpose?"

"I'm not sure," I admitted, the words stinging my tongue. "However, we cannot simply wait to be hunted."

She got up, moving slowly and carefully. "Perhaps Elara was right. The refuge might be our greatest choice."

"Or perhaps it's a trap," I shot back. "Anna, we don't know anything about it. She might have been taking us straight to the rogues, for all we know."

"You don't believe that," she whispered quietly as she looked into my eyes. "Not really."

Unable to look her in the eye, I turned my head away. "I'm not sure what I should believe anymore."

Between us, there was a thick, stifling quiet. The wind howling outside through the shattered windows served as a warning of the perils that could be found right outside the walls.

"Lucas," Anna whispered quietly, drawing me back with her words. "We have this in common, whether or not we like it."

I nodded as her words started to weigh heavily on my chest. She was right. Together, we would face whatever happened next.

However, a feeling of dread overcame me as I looked into the flames. Elara's story seemed too convenient, and her exit felt too sudden. I also couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that we were being watched.

Just before nightfall, the first indication of disaster emerged. In the distance, a deep, melancholy wail reverberated across the town. Anna's eyes widened in terror as she froze.

"They've located us," she muttered.

I took hold of her arm and dragged her to the rear of the building. "We must move. Right now."

With a hint of panic in her voice, she asked, "Where?"

"Anywhere but here," I stated in a tone that made no room for argument.

The howling became closer and more frequent as we collected our belongings. There would be no way out this time, and the rogues were on the way.