Chapter 27: A Game of Shadows

Jarek ran.

The tunnel stretched ahead, barely wide enough for all three of them to move at once. The rough stone walls were slick with moisture, and the air was thick with dust from the collapsed scaffolding.

Behind them, the sounds of Caden's assassins scrambling to pursue echoed through the cavern.

"We need to move faster," Sylva said, her voice tight.

Jarek's side still burned from the wound Caden had given him, but he pushed through the pain. "I'm already sprinting. You want me to grow extra legs?"

Tobias, panting beside him, groaned. "If you figure out how, let me know."

Sylva ignored their banter and kept running. "This tunnel connects to the old mining routes. If we take the right path, we can lose them."

Jarek glanced over his shoulder. "And if we take the wrong one?"

"Then we get trapped and die," Sylva said without hesitation.

Tobias grumbled, "Fantastic. Love those odds."

Jarek didn't respond. He focused on keeping up, ignoring the ache in his limbs and the nagging worry in his gut.

This wasn't over.

Caden wouldn't let them go so easily.

The Chase

The tunnel sloped downward. The ground became uneven, shifting under their feet as they ran. The deeper they went, the darker it became, the faint torchlight behind them fading into nothing.

Jarek's heart pounded. Where was the exit?

A sudden whistling sound cut through the air.

Sylva cursed and shoved Jarek aside just as an arrow flew past where his head had been a second ago.

"Shit," Jarek gasped.

More arrows followed, striking the stone around them.

Tobias ducked. "They're still shooting? In a cramped tunnel?"

"They don't care if they hit each other," Sylva said. "Keep moving!"

Jarek didn't need to be told twice.

The tunnel split ahead into three paths.

Jarek's gut twisted. "Uh, Sylva? Which way?"

Sylva hesitated—only for a second—before pointing left. "That way!"

Jarek followed without question.

They turned the corner just as another volley of arrows struck the wall behind them.

Then, suddenly—

The ground beneath Jarek vanished.

The Fall

Jarek barely had time to yell before he was falling.

Air rushed past his face. The world spun, flashes of rock and darkness blurring together.

Then—impact.

Jarek hit the ground hard, rolling instinctively to lessen the force. Pain exploded through his body, but nothing felt broken.

A second later, Tobias landed beside him with a pained grunt.

Sylva landed in a crouch, barely making a sound.

Jarek groaned. "Did we have to take the express route?"

Sylva ignored him, scanning their surroundings.

They had fallen into a massive underground chamber, the walls stretching high above them. Old mining tracks crisscrossed the floor, leading into darkened passageways. Rusted minecarts sat abandoned, their contents long forgotten.

The air smelled stale.

Tobias dusted himself off. "Tell me this connects to an exit."

Sylva's expression was unreadable. "It should."

Jarek exhaled. "Not comforting."

Then, from above—

"THEY'RE DOWN THERE!"

Jarek swore. He looked up to see silhouettes standing at the edge of the drop.

Caden was among them.

His voice was cold. "You really don't know when to quit, do you, Thorn?"

Jarek grinned despite himself. "What can I say? I'm stubborn."

Caden gestured to his men. "Kill them."

Jarek turned to Sylva. "Exit. Now."

She pointed to a darkened tunnel ahead. "That way."

Jarek grabbed Tobias by the sleeve. "Then we run."

The Escape

They sprinted toward the tunnel.

Behind them, arrows rained down, striking the stone floor with sharp cracks. Some of the assassins had already begun climbing down, their movements swift and precise.

Jarek pushed himself forward. His lungs burned, his legs ached, but he refused to slow down.

The tunnel narrowed, forcing them into a single-file run.

Tobias groaned. "Tell me there's not a dead end ahead."

"There isn't," Sylva said. Then, after a pause, "Probably."

"WHAT?"

Jarek sighed. "Just keep running."

The tunnel twisted, sloping upward now. The air became stifling, the walls closing in around them.

Then—

A faint light ahead.

Jarek's heart leapt. "I see an opening!"

Sylva nodded. "That should lead to the old storage caverns."

Tobias glanced back. "Uh, we might not make it before—"

Jarek didn't need him to finish. He could hear their pursuers getting closer.

Then—

The tunnel widened into a larger chamber.

Wooden crates and rusted weapons littered the floor. Ancient torches flickered in their sconces, barely illuminating the space.

And on the far side—

A large iron gate leading to another tunnel.

Jarek sprinted toward it—then skidded to a stop.

The gate was locked.

Tobias groaned. "Of course it is."

Sylva moved toward the lock, pulling a small set of tools from her belt. "I can open it. Just give me—"

An arrow whizzed past her head.

The assassins had reached the entrance.

Caden strode forward, calm as ever. "Nowhere left to run, Thorn."

Jarek raised his sword, ignoring the pain in his side. "Guess we fight, then."

Sylva cursed. "I need time to get this open."

Jarek exhaled. "Tobias, you ready?"

Tobias twirled his rapier. "Not even remotely."

Jarek grinned. "Good. Let's go."

The Last Stand

The assassins charged.

Jarek met them head-on, sword flashing. His first strike knocked a dagger aside, his second slammed into an assassin's ribs, sending them reeling.

Tobias moved like a dancer, dodging two blades before countering with a precise thrust to the shoulder.

Sylva worked furiously on the lock, her hands steady despite the chaos.

Caden watched.

He wasn't attacking. Not yet.

He was waiting.

Jarek ducked under a sword swing, countering with a brutal elbow strike to the jaw. Another assassin lunged—Tobias blocked with his rapier, twisting their weapon aside before landing a knee to their stomach.

More assassins flooded in.

Jarek's arms burned. His movements slowed. His wound ached.

Tobias cursed. "Sylva, how's that lock coming?"

Sylva didn't answer.

Then—

A click.

The gate swung open.

Sylva leapt back. "MOVE!"

Jarek grabbed Tobias, shoving him through the gate before following.

Sylva slammed the gate shut behind them, locking it in place.

Caden's assassins slammed into the bars, snarling.

Jarek backed away, breathing hard.

Caden stepped forward, gripping the iron bars.

His eyes met Jarek's.

"We'll see each other again, Thorn."

Jarek wiped blood from his lip. "Looking forward to it."

Then he turned—

And disappeared into the darkness.