A Desperate Escape

Chapter 7

The scraping against the workshop's metal walls intensified, a jagged, unnerving sound that made Evelyn's heart race. Her grip tightened around her gun as she shot a glance at Seraphine, who stood poised, crystal beacon glowing faintly in one hand, dagger gleaming in the other. Marcus hovered close by, his face pale but his resolve stronger than before. He'd been dragged into this surreal and dangerous world, but there was no turning back now.

"We need to buy some time," Evelyn muttered through clenched teeth. The weight of the situation pressed on her, making every breath feel heavier. "The Council will be here soon, right?"

Seraphine nodded, her eyes locked on the rattling door. "The beacon will lead them here, but we don't know how long it will take. Until then, we have to hold them off."

Her gaze shifted to Marcus, softening for just a moment. "Whatever happens, stay close. We won't let them take you."

Marcus swallowed, eyes flicking nervously between Seraphine and Evelyn. His entire body trembled from the shock of everything he'd seen. "I never thought my life would turn into... this," he said, forcing a weak, humorless smile. "Those boring shifts don't seem so bad now."

Evelyn gave him a small smile of solidarity, despite the fear curling in her gut. "We'll get you back to those shifts soon enough, Marcus. But first, we need to survive the night."

Suddenly, the scraping stopped, replaced by an unnerving silence. The air in the workshop felt thick, heavy with anticipation, as if the whole world was holding its breath. Evelyn's pulse quickened as she aimed her gun at the door, her muscles tensed. Beside her, Seraphine's focus sharpened, eyes narrowing into slits as she held her glowing dagger at the ready.

Without warning, the door crashed open, the force sending the crate they'd braced against it flying across the room. A shadow wraith, its form a shifting, smoky mass, surged through. Its glowing eyes fixed immediately on Marcus, drawn to him like a moth to flame.

Evelyn fired off two quick shots, but the bullets passed through the wraith as if through air, dissolving harmlessly into the shadows. "Damn it!" she cursed under her breath.

Seraphine moved like lightning, her enchanted dagger glowing brighter as it sliced through the air. The blade connected with the wraith, emitting a faint hiss. The creature recoiled, its form flickering violently before reforming.

"Only magical weapons can hurt them," Seraphine said, her voice calm but urgent. "Guns won't help. We need something stronger."

Evelyn cursed again. Magic. The one thing she didn't have. She turned to Marcus, who stood frozen, wide-eyed with terror.

"Marcus!" she snapped, bringing him back to the present. "Look around! Is there anything here that can help? Anything at all?"

Marcus blinked, panic giving way to action as he scanned the cluttered workshop. His gaze fell on a shelf filled with random objects, tools, and vials. He rushed over, his hands shaking as he fumbled through the disarray. He pulled out a small glass vial filled with shimmering liquid, holding it up as though it were a lifeline.

"This!" he shouted, his voice trembling. "Jake always said this was special, but I never knew what it was for."

Seraphine darted to his side, snatching the vial and uncorking it. She sniffed the liquid, then nodded sharply. "It's a binding elixir. Enchanted to trap spirits. This might be our chance."

"How does it work?" Evelyn asked, her eyes darting between Seraphine and the advancing wraith. The creature was recovering, its form coiling like a predator about to strike.

"We need to get close enough to throw it directly at the wraith," Seraphine replied, thrusting the vial into Marcus's trembling hands. "The liquid will bind it—at least for a while."

Marcus's face drained of color as he stared at the vial. "I'll do it," he said, his voice shaky but determined. "I got us into this. I'll help get us out."

"No!" Evelyn said, her voice firm, stepping closer to him. "It's too dangerous."

Marcus met her gaze, his expression resolute despite the fear coursing through him. "I can't just stand here," he said, more forcefully this time. "I have to try."

Seraphine handed him the vial, her tone soft but urgent. "Just be careful. Wait until it's close. You need to aim for its core. If you miss, we might not get another chance."

Marcus nodded, his grip on the vial tightening as his hand trembled. He took a deep breath, eyes locking onto the wraith as it loomed closer, its malevolent gaze fixed on him. Evelyn stood beside him, her gun still drawn, her instincts screaming to protect him.

The wraith hissed, its smoky tendrils swirling as it lunged toward Marcus.

"Now!" Seraphine shouted.

Without hesitation, Marcus threw the vial with all his strength. The glass shattered against the wraith's chest, the shimmering liquid spreading across its ethereal form. The creature screeched, a sound so inhuman and piercing that Evelyn winced. The shadows writhed, convulsing as the binding elixir took effect. The wraith's movements slowed, and the darkness surrounding it solidified, trapping it in place.

Evelyn exhaled, her heart pounding. "You did it, Marcus."

Marcus let out a shaky breath, barely able to stand as the adrenaline wore off. "I… I can't believe that worked."

Seraphine stepped forward, studying the immobilized wraith with a critical eye. "It won't hold forever," she warned. "We need to leave before more come. The Council should be on their way, but we can't stay here."

Evelyn turned to Marcus, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. "You ready to keep running?"

Marcus nodded, his legs still wobbly but his resolve hardening. "Let's go."

They slipped out through the workshop's back door into the still-dark streets of Grimvale. The air was cold, the city quiet, but there was no safety here—not yet. The wraiths were still out there, lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike again. Evelyn could feel it, a constant tension pressing in from every shadow.

Seraphine led the way, moving swiftly through the narrow alleys, her gaze sweeping the dark corners for any sign of danger. Evelyn stayed close to Marcus, every muscle in her body coiled and ready to react. She could see Marcus struggling to keep up, the weight of everything bearing down on him, but he pushed forward.

"There's something I didn't tell you," Marcus said, his voice low and strained.

Evelyn glanced at him, her brow furrowing. "What is it?"

Marcus hesitated, his gaze fixed on the cobblestones beneath his feet. "The man who was watching me… the day I found the coin. He said something. At the time, I thought he was just some creep, but now… it feels like it matters."

Seraphine slowed her pace, her eyes narrowing. "What did he say?"

Marcus swallowed, his voice barely a whisper. "'The coin chooses its bearer. Once you take it, there's no turning back.'" He paused, his eyes wide with realization. "I didn't think anything of it back then, but now… now I think he knew."

A cold shiver ran down Evelyn's spine. She exchanged a glance with Seraphine, whose expression had darkened.

"'The coin chooses its bearer,'" Seraphine repeated, her voice heavy with meaning. "That means the coin wasn't left there by accident. Marcus, you were meant to find it."

Marcus's face paled. "Why? What does that mean for me?"

Evelyn stepped closer, her voice gentle but firm. "We don't know yet. But we're going to figure it out. You're not alone in this. We'll get through it together."

Seraphine nodded, her gaze intense but steady. "The Council will have answers. But first, we need to get you there safely."

As they moved deeper into the city, the weight of the shadows seemed to press closer, a reminder of the danger that followed them. But with Evelyn and Seraphine at his side, Marcus no longer felt like he was running away—he was fighting, and for the first time, he knew he wasn't alone.

The night was still dark, and the threats still lurked in every corner, but together, they stood a chance. And for now, that was enough.