Chapter 21:

The village was quiet, save for the crackling of the fire and the murmur of the villagers discussing the situation. The crew was tied up and sitting around the makeshift campfire, their faces painted with exhaustion and frustration.

Ellie shot a glare at Dr. Isaac, who was lounging as if he were at a tavern rather than in dire straits. "You know, Isaac, your so-called 'plan' didn't exactly go as you expected. We're tied up and James is still hurting from the lashes."

Isaac grinned sheepishly. "Well, it's not as if I had a crystal ball to see all this coming. Sometimes you have to take a few lumps for the greater good."

James, his left arm still bandaged and throbbing, looked at Isaac with a mix of anger and disbelief. "Greater good? You almost got us all killed. And now we're back in the hands of these villagers."

Raine, standing nearby with two village guards, overheard the conversation and sauntered over. "Complaining again, are we?" Her eyes were sharp, and her voice was laced with disdain. "You lot are lucky we didn't burn you alive for what you did to our village."

Ellie scowled at her. "Oh, spare us the lectures. We didn't come here to argue. We came to make a deal."

"Make a deal?" Raine's lips curled into a sneer. "Why should we trust you? After what you did, I wouldn't trust you to deliver a message, let alone a promise."

Isaac rolled his eyes dramatically. "Yes, well, we're all in a bit of a pickle here, aren't we? So, why don't we focus on how to get out of this mess instead of wallowing in self-pity?"

"Self-pity?" Raine's eyes flashed with anger. "You're the reason we're in this mess. If you hadn't been so reckless—"

"Reckless?" Isaac interrupted, standing up, still bound but defiant. "I was doing my best under pressure. Not everyone can be perfect like you."

The tension in the air thickened as Raine took a step closer to Isaac, her hand resting on the hilt of her knife. "Perfect? I don't recall claiming perfection. I just don't appreciate traitors and fools jeopardizing everything."

The village guards exchanged uneasy glances, clearly uncomfortable with the rising hostility. One of them spoke up. "Maybe we should just figure out what we're going to do next."

Raine, still glaring at Isaac, turned her attention back to the crew. "Fine. We'll let you go if you can prove you're not a threat. But you need to understand that we're not in a forgiving mood. The boy—Thomas—is the key, and we need him safe."

Ellie nodded, though her face was still tense. "We understand. But how do we prove ourselves to you?"

Raine's gaze softened slightly, though the suspicion never left her eyes. "You help us retrieve something important. Something that will ensure our safety and prove your loyalty."

Isaac sighed, his demeanor shifting slightly. "And what is it that you need us to retrieve?"

Raine crossed her arms. "There's an artifact we need. It's said to be hidden in the mountains. If you bring it back, we'll consider letting you go and aiding you in your quest."

James winced as he shifted in his bound position. "Alright, we'll do it. Just let us out of these ropes."

Raine gave a curt nod to the guards, who began to untie the crew. "Don't try anything foolish. We'll be watching you closely."

As the crew was freed, they exchanged glances, each one knowing that their situation was precarious. They had to work with the villagers, who had every reason to distrust them. And with Thomas still in Cane's grasp, the urgency of their mission weighed heavily on their shoulders.

Ellie whispered to James and Isaac, "We need to be smart about this. We're on a tight rope here, and one wrong move could be our last."

Isaac, rubbing his sore wrists, smirked slightly. "Well, it's not the first time I've been in a tight spot. We'll manage."

James, still visibly upset but determined, nodded. "Let's just get this done and get out of here. We need to save Thomas and stop Cane."

With that, the crew prepared to venture into the mountains, guided by Raine and her guards, their future uncertain but their resolve stronger than ever.

As they moved away from the village, the guards eventually left them alone, allowing them a brief respite. Isaac took advantage of the moment to voice his true feelings.

"Artifact, my ass," Isaac muttered under his breath. Before he could say more, he felt a sharp pain and saw nothing but darkness as Raine's elbow struck his face. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.