Shadows In The Night

The night air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. The moon hung high above, casting a pale, cold light over the dense forest that surrounded them. Jude and Elara had no choice but to make do with what little shelter they could find—an abandoned stone structure, half-covered in ivy, hidden away deep in the woods. The ground was hard beneath them, the rough stone wall offering little comfort, but it was better than the open wilderness where they could be easily tracked.

The fire crackled low, its flickering flames casting eerie shadows around the small clearing. They were far from the capital now, but Jude knew that the Fatebound Order was relentless. They could track them down no matter where they hid.

Jude sat against the stone wall, his arms crossed, watching the fire burn. His mind was a storm of thoughts—each one more chaotic than the last. The weight of Elara's fate, the dangers they faced, the knowledge that he could rewrite fate but wasn't sure how far he could go with it. Every time he tried to grasp at a solution, it slipped through his fingers.

Elara, on the other hand, was staring into the fire, her face illuminated by the flickering glow. She had been quiet for a while now, her posture tense and uneasy. Jude had noticed the change in her ever since the escape—she was no longer the calm, composed noblewoman he had first met. Now, she was a girl running from death, trapped in a fate she couldn't escape.

"Can't sleep?" Jude finally asked, breaking the silence.

Elara didn't look at him, her gaze fixed on the flames. "Not really. It's hard to forget what's coming."

Jude shifted uneasily, his eyes narrowing. "You think about it a lot, don't you?"

"Every second." Her voice was soft, filled with a strange mixture of fear and resignation. "I know it's coming. In three days, I'll be dead. Nothing I do can change that."

Jude's jaw clenched. He hated that she felt so helpless. He hated that she thought it was inevitable. His fingers twitched, itching to do something, anything. He couldn't just stand by and let this happen.

"You're wrong," Jude said firmly, his voice low but steady. "I've seen fate bend and break. I've seen it change. I can change it. And I will for you."

Elara's eyes flickered to him, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. But there was no joy in it—just a hint of disbelief. "You really think you can change it?"

"I know I can," Jude replied, his voice sharp. "I've done it before. And I'm not going to let you die because some ancient law says you should. You're more than that. You deserve more than that."

She held his gaze for a moment, studying him as if trying to read the truth in his words. But then, she shook her head, her smile fading. "I wish I could believe you," she whispered, the vulnerability in her voice striking him harder than he expected. "But... there are things even you can't fight. Fate doesn't care how much you want to change it. It's not that easy."

Jude clenched his fists at his sides, frustration bubbling up in his chest. "Maybe it isn't easy, but I will make it happen."

The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The crackle of the fire was the only sound in the otherwise silent night. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting long, twisted shadows around them.

The sudden sensation of magic flared in the air, sharp and unmistakable. Jude's eyes snapped open, his body instinctively tensing as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He felt it before he saw it—a faint pulse of energy, a magical presence drawing closer.

He turned his head slowly, eyes scanning the surroundings.

A soft crack echoed in the underbrush, the sound of footsteps moving too quietly to be natural. A trap.

Before Jude could react, Elara grabbed his arm. "Wildcard... we're not alone."

His heart raced as he glanced back at her. She was wide-eyed, her breath shallow as she stared into the woods, her senses fully alert. But Jude didn't need to look again. He could already feel them—the Fatebound Order's presence was unmistakable.

"My name's Jude." he muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on his katana.

The first knight emerged from the shadows, moving like a wraith. Cloaked in dark armor, their face hidden behind a helmet, they were a shadow in the night. More followed, silently surrounding the clearing. Jude counted three knights—each of them a deadly force in their own right. He knew the Fatebound Order didn't take prisoners. They'd come to kill, or worse—capture.

Without a word, the knights lunged.

Jude acted immediately, his sword flashing as he blocked the first strike. The knight was fast, but Jude was faster. With a swift motion, he deflected the blow and countered with a slash aimed at the knight's exposed side. The blade bit into the knight's armor, but only slightly.

"Go!" Jude shouted at Elara, already spinning to face another knight's attack.

But Elara was frozen in place, staring at the knights as they surrounded them. The sound of metal scraping against stone rang in her ears. She couldn't just run. She couldn't let him fight alone.

"Don't stay there!" Jude snapped, but it was too late. One of the knights broke through his defenses, slashing downward with a curved blade. Jude barely had time to twist away, the sword cutting his abdomen as he staggered back.

The battle was turning against him. There were too many of them. He couldn't fight them all.

"Elara—run!" Jude yelled, his voice hoarse with urgency.

But she didn't. Instead, she moved to help him, throwing a desperate strike at the nearest knight. She was skilled, but not enough to land a fatal blow. The knight parried, knocking her to the ground with a single strike.

Jude's heart dropped as he turned to see her sprawled on the ground, struggling to get up.

With a growl, he surged forward, cutting through the knights in his way, his katana moving faster than his thoughts. But the more he fought, the more knights came. He was being overwhelmed.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his side, and the world went dizzy. He collapsed to his knees, barely able to stay upright. A knight's sword had found its mark, the blow nearly incapacitating him.

"Elara, no..." He tried to stand, but his body was failing him. He barely noticed the knights closing in on Elara.

The last thing he heard before darkness consumed him was her scream.

...

Hours later, Jude awoke with a start. His head was pounding, his vision blurred, and his body felt like it had been shattered. He pushed himself up, gasping for air. But there was no sign of Elara.

Panic surged through him, and he staggered to his feet, his legs unsteady. He scanned the area frantically. The knights were gone. The clearing was empty.

Except for him.

"No!" he shouted, his voice hoarse. "Where is she?"

He didn't know how long he had been out, but it didn't matter. The Fatebound Order had taken her.

He knew he needed help, and there was only one person he could turn to—someone who owed him a favor.

Dr. Kuro.

The thought of his old friend, a reclusive doctor who operated on the fringes of society, brought a flicker of hope to his chest. Kuro was a man of mystery, with connections everywhere. He was one of the few people who knew Jude's past and had saved his life on more than one occasion. If anyone could help him, it was Kuro.

Jude gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain as he staggered through the woods, pushing his way through the underbrush. The forest was dense here, and the air was thick with the scent of wet earth. His thoughts were a whirlpool of rage and desperation—Elara was out there, somewhere, in the hands of the Fatebound Order. He couldn't afford to waste time.

After hours of traveling, Jude reached the edge of a small village. Hidden deep in the mountains, it was the perfect place for someone like Kuro to lay low. Jude had only been here a few times before, but he knew the route by heart. A quick knock on a weathered door, a whispered code, and Kuro would be there.

The door creaked open, revealing the tall, lean figure of the doctor. His eyes, sharp and calculating, narrowed as he took in Jude's appearance.

"You look like hell," Kuro remarked, his voice low and steady.

"I need you," Jude grunted, forcing the words out through clenched teeth. He stepped into the small, dimly lit room, leaning heavily against the doorframe. His side ached with each movement, but he couldn't afford to be weak. Not now.

Kuro didn't hesitate. His eyes flicked to the wound on Jude's side before he gestured toward a worn wooden table. "Sit. I'll fix you up. But after that, we need to talk."

Jude dropped into the chair, grateful to finally be out of the wild and into the hands of someone who could tend to him. Kuro's skill with medicine was unmatched, and his calm, methodical approach to his work always made Jude feel like he could breathe again.

Kuro examined the wound, his brow furrowing as he carefully removed the tattered remains of Jude's shirt. "This is a nasty gash," he muttered, his fingers moving with practiced precision as he cleaned the wound. "You've been in a fight. With the Fatebound Order, I'm guessing."

Jude didn't reply immediately. Instead, he watched Kuro work, his mind racing. When the doctor finally finished cleaning the wound, he set about stitching it up.

"I need information," Jude said, his voice tight with urgency. "The Fatebound Order has abducted somebody I need to save. I have to get them back, Kuro. I can't just sit here."

Kuro paused, his needle hovering over the skin as he glanced up at Jude. 

Jude continued. "I need to know where the Fatebound Order is hiding. Could you locate their base?"

Kuro let out a soft chuckle, though there was no humor in it. "You're asking the wrong person, Jude. You think I have access to the Fatebound's operations? You think I'm on their radar? They keep their business locked down tight."

"I don't care. You have connections. You know people. You're one of the few who can get me answers." Jude leaned forward, his voice lowering to a dangerous intensity. "I need to know where they're holding them. And I'm going to get them out."

Kuro shook his head slowly, his expression unreadable. "You're crazy if you think you can just waltz into a Fatebound stronghold. You've been fighting knights and barely scraped by, and now you think you can take on an entire base?"

"I'll do whatever it takes," Jude growled, his fists clenching. "That person is not dying. Not while I can do something about it."

Kuro sighed, setting down the needle as he finished stitching the wound. "You know what you're asking, right? You think this is some easy mission? They're not just going to let you walk in and take them. And if you somehow manage to break through their defenses, you'll be walking straight into a trap. You'll be dead before you get within a hundred yards of their gates."

Jude's gaze hardened. "I'm not asking you to come with me. I just need the intel."

"You're hell-bent on this, aren't you?" Kuro muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Fine. You want information? I'll get it for you. But don't expect me to come running when things go south. You're on your own, Jude."

Jude nodded, though his chest tightened. He didn't want to do this alone, but Kuro was right—he couldn't ask the doctor to risk his life too.

Kuro hesitated before speaking again. "Listen, you might get lucky if you're fast, but there's a chance that the Fatebound Order will already be on the move. They don't take prisoners. Not like you think. They'll kill her before you even get close."

Jude stood, his legs still a little unsteady, but his determination was stronger than the pain in his side. "Then I'll make sure I'm faster than they are."

Kuro narrowed his eyes, studying him closely. "If you want me to help you, you better be ready for the consequences. Once you make that move, there's no turning back."

Jude's lips curled into a cold smile. "I'm already past the point of no return."

The doctor seemed to contemplate that for a long moment, then finally gave a short nod. "You're going to get yourself killed."

"Maybe," Jude said quietly, his voice barely a whisper. "But I'm not leaving them to die."

Kuro let out a frustrated sigh, clearly not pleased with the situation, but he knew there was no talking sense into Jude. The doctor quickly grabbed a vial from a nearby shelf, uncorking it and handing it over.

"This will numb the pain," Kuro said, his voice clipped. "Take it. I'll get the information you need, but you better be out of here by the time the sun sets. I don't want to be caught up in your mess."

Jude took the vial with a nod of thanks. "I'll be gone by then. But I need that intel, Kuro. Don't make me come back here looking for you."

"Get out of here, Jude," Kuro muttered, turning back to his work. "I'll get you what you need. But after that, you're on your own."

Jude nodded, the fire in his eyes burning brighter than ever. He turned and walked out the door, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. But no matter how heavy the burden, he couldn't let Elara die. Not like this.