Chapter 7 - Kidnapped

Aric's steps quickened as he approached the hut, a sense of urgency gnawing at him. The darkness of the forest clung to his back, the quietness almost suffocating.

He reached for the door, his hand hovering just above the handle when suddenly, the world erupted in a flash of light and sound.

The door burst open with a violent force, the impact sending Aric flying backwards. He crashed into the ground, his back slamming against the earth with a thud that knocked the wind out of him. Pain radiated through his body, his ears ringing from the explosion as he struggled to regain his senses.

Blinking through the haze of pain and shock, Aric forced his eyes open, focusing on the scene before him.

The hut stood partially in ruins, the door hanging off its hinges, smoke curling from the splintered wood. And there, standing in the doorway, was the woman he had saved.

Her expression was cold, eyes narrowed with a mix of determination and contempt. In her hands, she held a small, unconscious figure—Vire. The tiny creature was limp, its usually vibrant glow dimmed to a mere flicker.

The woman's grip on Vire was firm, her movements deliberate as she slipped them into a pouch at her side.

"No..." Aric's voice was a hoarse whisper, his mind reeling as he tried to process what was happening. He attempted to push himself up, but his body betrayed him, the pain from the explosion too much to bear. His muscles screamed in protest, his vision swimming as he struggled to stay conscious.

The woman glanced at him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, their eyes met, and Aric could see no trace of the vulnerability she had shown when they found her in the forest. There was only cold resolve as if everything that had transpired was part of some twisted plan.

She turned away, stepping out of the hut and moving toward the edge of the forest. Aric watched, helpless, as she disappeared into the shadows, taking Vire with her. His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of fear and rage surging through him.

"Vire..." The name escaped his lips, filled with desperation and anger. He tried again to stand, gritting his teeth against the pain, but his legs buckled beneath him, sending him crashing back to the ground.

His fingers clawed at the dirt, his breath ragged as he fought against the agony that wracked his body.

He had been deceived—betrayed by the very person he had tried to save. And now, Vire was gone, taken by that woman for reasons he couldn't fathom. The realization cut deep, a burning ache in his chest that twisted and turned, feeding the anger that had begun to boil within him.

Aric's vision blurred, not just from the physical pain but from the searing rage that coursed through his veins.

The forest around him seemed to close in, the trees whispering dark promises, fueling the madness that crept into his mind. He had trusted that woman, and in return, she had torn his world apart.

As he lay there, battered and broken, Aric's thoughts spiralled into a dark place. His mind filled with visions of vengeance, of tracking down the woman and making her pay for what she had done.

But beneath the fury, a deeper fear took root—a fear that he had lost Vire forever.

He couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't.

Aric forced his body to move, pushing himself up with trembling arms. His vision wavered, but the resolve in his heart burned brighter than ever.

He would find Vire, no matter the cost. He would tear the forest apart, hunt down every shadow, and confront whatever evil had taken them from him.

With a final, ragged breath, Aric managed to rise to his feet. The pain was overwhelming, but it was nothing compared to the fire that now burned in his soul. He stood there, swaying slightly, his mind consumed by a single thought:

Vire was his to protect. And he would stop at nothing to bring them back.