[Unseen Enemies]

The night was quiet, but the silence felt wrong. It was too still, like the world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig beneath our feet made my heart race a little faster.

Lyra was walking just ahead of me, her sword in hand, eyes constantly scanning the shadows around us. The old man walked behind us, his staff resting against the ground, but he too was alert. His hands were never too far from the staff, ready to strike at any moment.

We had been running for what felt like hours, trying to put as much distance between us and the men who had attacked us. They were still out there, somewhere. I could feel it.

"They're following us," Lyra said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, my grip tightening on my sword. "I know. We can't stop."

The old man spoke up then, his voice calm but firm. "Keep moving, and don't let your guard down. They'll be looking for weaknesses."

We didn't need to be told twice. We kept walking, the sound of our steps the only noise in the oppressive silence. But the further we went into the forest, the darker it seemed to get. It was like the trees were closing in around us, their twisted branches blocking out what little light there was.

Suddenly, a figure darted out from behind a tree. I barely had time to react, my sword flashing through the air, but the figure was fast, too fast. The attack was blocked with a sharp clang as the figure's blade met mine.

I pushed against the sword, forcing my opponent back, but they were quick to recover. A flash of silver caught my eye, and I ducked just in time as another figure came at me from the side.

Lyra was already engaged with her own attacker, her sword moving like lightning as she parried and struck with deadly precision. But there were too many of them. More figures appeared from the shadows, surrounding us.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. We couldn't keep running forever. We had to fight back.

I swung my sword at the closest enemy, the blade cutting through the air with a satisfying thud as it collided with their chest. They stumbled back, but before I could finish them off, another attacker lunged at me.

I raised my sword in time to block the blow, but the force of the attack made me stumble. I cursed under my breath, trying to regain my balance.

"Watch out!" Lyra shouted.

I turned just in time to see a third enemy coming toward me, their sword raised high. I could feel the air around me thicken as they drew closer, and I knew I didn't have enough time to dodge.

Then, just as the enemy's sword was about to strike, the ground beneath us trembled. A burst of energy shot through the air, sending the attackers flying in all directions. I barely had time to react, but I managed to keep my feet under me.

The attackers were knocked back, but they quickly regained their footing. I looked up to see the old man standing in the middle of the clearing, his staff glowing with power.

"Stay back!" he called, his voice commanding. "I'll handle this."

But I wasn't going to just stand by and let him fight alone. I rushed forward, my sword raised, ready to strike.

More enemies appeared from the shadows, but the old man was ready. He raised his staff again, and the air around us shimmered with energy. A bright light burst from the tip of his staff, creating a barrier around us. The attackers tried to push through, but the light kept them back.

"We can't hold them off forever!" I shouted. "We need to move!"

Lyra nodded, but before we could make a plan, the masked figure appeared. The one who had been pulling the strings behind the scenes. His cold, calculating eyes locked onto us, and for a moment, I felt the weight of his gaze.

"You're brave," he said, his voice chillingly calm. "But this is where it ends."

The masked man stepped forward, his presence sending a ripple of fear through the air. He didn't move quickly, but there was a quiet power in his every step. I could feel the dark magic around him, swirling like a storm waiting to be unleashed.

"We need to leave," Lyra said, her voice urgent. "Now."

I glanced at her, then at the old man. He was still holding the barrier, but I could see the strain in his face. We didn't have much time before he collapsed from the effort.

"Hold them off, just a little longer," I said, turning back to the old man. "We'll find a way out."

The old man nodded, though his face was pale. "Be quick," he said, his voice strained. "I can't keep this up much longer."

I turned to Lyra. "Ready?"

She nodded, her eyes hard. "Let's go."

We charged forward, cutting through the enemy forces that tried to stop us. With every swing of my sword, I felt the weight of our situation growing heavier. We were outnumbered, and every step we took seemed to push us deeper into the heart of the enemy's trap.

But we couldn't stop. Not now.

As we fought our way through the clearing, the masked man's voice rang out again. "You can't escape me."

We ignored him, focusing on the enemies around us. There were too many to take down all at once, but we couldn't waste any time. Every second we delayed meant the old man would be in more danger.

Suddenly, I saw an opening. A gap in the enemy's defenses. Without thinking, I darted toward it, Lyra right behind me.

The masked man's eyes narrowed, but before he could react, I made a desperate lunge, pushing through the enemy forces. The world seemed to slow as I ran, each step bringing me closer to the exit.

Just when I thought we were almost free, the masked man's voice echoed through the air again, filled with anger. "You won't escape me."

But this time, it was too late.

We broke through the last of the enemy's lines, bursting into the open field. I looked over my shoulder to see the masked man still standing in the distance, his eyes burning with fury. But we had made it. For now, at least.

We didn't stop running. We didn't look back.