Chapter 54: The Price Of Survival

The rumble that had shaken the ground lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the approaching danger. 

Emily and Damien stood frozen, their senses heightened, every muscle in their bodies primed for action. 

The sound of marching boots grew louder, a steady rhythm that seemed to echo off the mountainside, reverberating through the narrow pass. 

They couldn't afford to stay in the open. The enforcers were close—too close—and Dante's sudden departure only made the situation more urgent.

Damien was the first to react. His eyes darted around, searching for an escape. 

He gestured for Emily to follow him and crouched low, moving quickly but quietly toward a narrow alcove carved into the side of the cliff. 

The walls of the pass were steep here, the rocks jagged and uneven, offering little cover.

 But the alcove was just deep enough to conceal them if they were careful.