The group advanced through the treed underbrush silently, their pace slow and labored as Alex leaned heavily on Gideon and Mara, struggling to keep his feet under him. The battle with Darius had drained more of him than he had wanted to allow for, and every step was a reminder of how close he was to everything being irretrievable.
"We're close," said Gideon, his voice steady but strained. "There's a safe house nearby. We can rest and regroup."
Alex gave a weak nod, his vision growing dim. Mara's arm squeezed tighter around him, her warmth a flicker of consolation against the gap of cold closing in. He looked at her, noting the concern creased on her brow.
"I'm OK," he said, his voice unconvincing.
"No, you're not," Mara's reply rang. "But you will be. I promise."
Lila, a few steps in front, looked back at them. Her face was inscrutable, but Alex could feel the tension coming off her in waves. Since the fight, she hadn't said much; her mind seemed elsewhere.
Midnight Safe House—The safe house was a small, weather-worn wooden cabin buried deep in the woods. It seemed deserted from the outside, but when Gideon opened the door, the inside was a well-stocked refuge. Supplies filled the shelves, and a fire crackled in the hearth, as if to welcome them.
"This is a protected place," Gideon said as they eased Alex onto a battered but comfortable couch. "Darius won't find us here."
"For now," Lila said, her hand on the hilt of her blade. Her eyes were collecting the darkness outside the window, over the trees. "We can't stay too long. He'll come after us."
Mara dropped to one knee beside Alex, whose hands glowed faintly as he manipulated the healing energy. "You should rest," she said kindly. "Let me take care of you."
He managed a faint smile. "You already are."
While Mara abided, Lila's venom speared the room. "We need to discuss what happened back there. Darius wasn't only trying to kill us; he was assessing us. Testing him." She gestured toward Alex.
Gideon frowned. "What are you saying? "
"I'm saying there's more to this than we know," Lila said, the tone of her voice sharpened with irritation. "Darius isn't acting alone. Something or someone is pulling the strings."
Her words sank in, and the room fell silent as Mara's hands stilled, and she looked up at Lila with an expression of defiance. "Alex is not some pawn in a game. He's fighting to save all of us."
Lila's tone softened, but her voice stayed strong. "I know that. But we can't overlook the possibility that there's more going on here than meets the eye."
Alex stirred, voice cracked but strong. "She's right."
Mara was surprised to hear him. "Alex, you don't have to."
"No," he interjected, forcing himself up despite the pain. "Lila's right. Darius… he said something when we were fighting. He called me 'worthy.' Some plan that I was part of."
Gideon's expression darkened. "That's not good. If they view you as a threat … or a tool…"
"Then we're out of time," Lila said. "We demand answers, and we demand them quickly."
A few nights later, while the other camp-goers slept, Alex couldn't. Firelight played about the room, shadows flickering dancing upon the walls. He gazed at the fire, a million questions swirling in his head.
Mara stirred next to him, her hand slipping out to find his. "Can't sleep? " She asked softly.
He shook his head. "Too much to think about."
She sat up, eyes searching his. "You're holding so much on your shoulders, Alex. You aren't in it alone."
He hesitated and then turned and faced her. "What if I'm not strong enough? What if Darius is correct, and I'm simply a pawn in all this? "
Mara put her hands on either side of his face, the touch warm and steadying. "You're not a pawn. You're a fighter. And whatever happens, I'm right here with you."
Her words curled around him like a shield, and for the first time in what felt like days, he let himself relax. He leaned forward with their foreheads together and closed his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.
The moment was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. It was a sharp, invasive gesture and broke the restful silence in the cabin.
In an instant, Lila was on her feet, blade drawn. Gideon took a step towards the door, his staff glowing dimly. "Who's there? " he called.
A voice replied, deep and strained. "Help me… please."
Alex took a look at Mara, then raised and followed the others. Gideon cautiously opened the door, and there was a figure leaning against the door frame. It was a girl, her clothing tattered and spattered with blood, and her face ashen and terrified.
"They're coming," she said with a whisper before falling into Gideon's arms.
The group fell silent and gaped at her, wordless, as her words landed on them like unwelcome rain. Suddenly, the safe house no longer felt safe, and the shadows dimming outside seemed to darken further with each passing moment.