The Hunt

The first rays of sunlight barely penetrated the grimy warehouse windows, casting pale streaks of light across the concrete floor. Caden stood by the entrance, staring out at the waking world. Every sound—a distant car engine, the chirping of birds—felt muted, like it came from another reality. He hadn't slept. He couldn't. Every time he closed his eyes, fragments of memories crashed together, blending with Ares's taunting voice until his mind felt like it might break.

Lucas's footsteps broke the silence as he approached, boots crunching on the dusty floor. He held a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a pistol in the other. "You look like hell," he said, handing Caden the cup.

Caden took it, drinking deeply without a word. The coffee's bitterness did little to clear his foggy mind. "I'll rest when this is over," he muttered.

Lucas smirked as he holstered his pistol. "At this rate, that might be sooner than you think."

Caden shot him a sidelong glance. "Thanks for the encouragement."

The smirk faded, replaced by a grim seriousness. "We've got a problem. I picked up some chatter last night—The Circle knows you're here. They've sent hunters."

The words settled like a stone in Caden's chest. "Hunters? Plural?"

"At least two, maybe more," Lucas confirmed. "And these aren't just grunts. They're sending elites."

Finally, Ares's voice slithered through Caden's mind, sharp and eager. Something worth our attention.

Caden ignored him and set the coffee aside. "How long do we have?"

Lucas's gaze shifted toward the window. "Not long. Maybe a day. Probably less. We need to move."

Caden nodded, his jaw tightening. "Then let's make it count."

Caden and Lucas moved quickly, gathering what little they had. The warehouse, though dilapidated, had served as a temporary refuge for the past few days. Lucas's preparation had kept them safe—so far.

Their arsenal was limited. A couple of handguns, an assault rifle, a few grenades, and some spare magazines. Caden strapped on a tactical vest, checking his pistol's chamber with practiced ease.

"What's the plan?" he asked.

"We head north," Lucas said, slinging a rifle over his shoulder. "There's an old safehouse about fifty miles from here. It's off the grid, reinforced. We can regroup there."

"And when The Circle tracks us there?" Caden asked, his tone sharp.

Lucas shrugged. "Then we keep running. That's the game now, isn't it?"

Caden scowled. He hated the idea of running, of being hunted like an animal. But until he could figure out how to turn the tables, they had no choice.

Their preparations were interrupted by the low hum of an approaching engine. Both men froze. Lucas's hand moved to the pistol at his hip. "They're here," he whispered.

Caden crossed to the window, peering out. A sleek black SUV had pulled up outside, its dark paint gleaming in the early morning light. Four men stepped out, each dressed in tactical gear. Their visors hid their faces, but their movements were disciplined and precise. Each carried an assault rifle, their formation tightening as they approached.

"They don't look like grunts," Caden observed grimly.

"They're not," Lucas replied. "These are hunters. Elite operatives. They won't stop until one of us is dead."

Caden drew his pistol, his gaze hard. "Then let's make sure it's them."

The hunters moved with military precision, circling the warehouse to block any exits. Caden and Lucas crouched behind a stack of crates, their weapons ready.

"Stick to cover," Lucas whispered. "Take them out one by one. Don't let them pin you down."

Caden nodded, his pulse steady despite the tension in the air. His grip on the pistol tightened as he listened for their footsteps.

Let me handle this, Ares urged. His voice was low, insistent. You're outmatched, and you know it.

"Not yet," Caden muttered under his breath.

The first hunter stepped through the main entrance, his rifle sweeping the room. Caden waited, muscles coiled, until the man turned. Then he fired twice. Both shots hit their mark, and the hunter crumpled to the floor.

"Nice shot," Lucas said, popping up from behind cover to fire at a second hunter entering from a side door.

The remaining two hunters opened fire, their bullets tearing through the crates and sending splinters flying. Caden pressed his back against the wall, ducking as gunfire echoed through the warehouse.

"This isn't going to be easy," Lucas muttered, reloading his weapon.

"No kidding," Caden replied, his voice tight.

The gunfire grew more intense. Every time Caden moved, the hunters adjusted, their teamwork flawless. He could feel Ares pushing against the edges of his mind, the voice growing louder, more insistent.

You can't win this without me, Ares said. Let me in, and I'll show you what real power looks like.

Caden clenched his teeth, his frustration mounting. Finally, he relented. "Fine. Do it."

A surge of heat spread through his body as Ares took over. Time seemed to slow, his senses sharpening to an almost unbearable degree. He moved before he could think, darting out from cover and firing two precise shots. The first hunter dropped instantly, a bullet between his eyes.

The second tried to retreat, but Caden closed the distance with inhuman speed. He grabbed the man's rifle, wrenching it away before slamming the hunter into the wall with enough force to leave a crack in the plaster.

The fight was over in seconds.

Caden stood over the last hunter, his breathing ragged as Ares's influence receded. The silence that followed felt deafening.

See? Ares said smugly. Told you it would be fun.

Caden ignored him, turning to Lucas. The other man stared, a mixture of awe and unease on his face.

"That was... impressive," Lucas said cautiously. "But you need to be careful. If you let Ares take over too much, you might not get control back."

Caden nodded, though the warning lingered. "Let's get out of here before more show up."

They packed the supplies into a battered pickup truck Lucas had stashed nearby and hit the road. The safehouse was fifty miles north, but the adrenaline from the fight kept them both on edge as they drove.

Caden stared out the window, his mind racing. The hunters had been skilled, but he'd been better. Or rather, Ares had been better.

You need me, Ares said, his tone smug. Admit it.

"I need you," Caden muttered, "but I don't trust you."

Trust is irrelevant, Ares replied. What matters is results.

Caden turned his gaze back to the road, unwilling to give the voice more attention.

After a long silence, he spoke. "Lucas, what happens if we can't outrun them?"

Lucas kept his eyes on the road, his expression grim. "Then we stop running and fight."

Caden nodded, his jaw tightening. He wasn't ready to stop yet, but he knew the fight was coming. When it did, he would be ready.