19. The Flame in the Darkness

The return to camp is tense. The air feels heavier, almost tangible, as if the trees themselves could hear us, as if the ground beneath our feet could sense the weight of what we’ve just lived through. Shadow hasn’t let go of my hand. His fingers cling to mine with a desperation that borders on fear—fear that if he lets go, something darker and more dangerous might come for me. And right now, I wouldn’t blame him.

“What are you planning to do about them?” I ask as we walk, my voice barely a whisper in the stillness of the night.

Shadow stops abruptly, his eyes locking onto mine as though he could see straight into the depths of my soul.

“I’m going to protect you, Eve. I won’t let Caleb touch you. I won’t let any of them touch you.”

A part of me wants to believe him. But there’s something in his voice, in the way he says those words, that makes me wonder if he even believes he can keep that promise.

“And what if you can’t?” I reply, the irony slipping into my voice despite the tension.

The pain that flashes across his eyes is sharper than I intended. My words have cut deeper than I thought they would. But right now, I can’t help it. The thought that Caleb might be right—that Shadow can’t stop the storm that’s coming—is devouring me.

He sighs, dropping his gaze, a low growl rumbling in his throat.

“I will, Eve. I have to. Because I can’t lose you.”

The words fall heavy between us. I don’t know if they’re a vow or a curse—but in this moment, they scare me.

We return to the camp. Garret and the others watch us, but no one speaks. They all know what happened. They’ve felt it. Seen it.

…...

The next morning arrives wrapped in thick fog that blankets everything. There’s something unsettling about this weather; the mist that cloaks the forest feels like it’s hiding something from us—something we need to see. Shadow takes my hand again, this time without a word, but there’s purpose in his gaze.

“Today we head to the refuge,” Garret announces.

I have no idea what that means, but something in the way he says it puts me on edge. There’s a weight in his tone, a tension in his posture, that tells me things are about to get even more dangerous.

“The refuge?” I ask, unable to keep the question to myself.

“A safe place,” Garret replies with a smile that never reaches his eyes. “At least, until we know what to do about Caleb and his followers.”

But what he doesn’t say—what no one says—is that every move we make is drawing them closer. Every step is a flare in the dark, an invitation to danger. And the worst part is… Caleb isn’t the only one hunting us. There are others. Other dark things. Other forces I still don’t understand.

As we head into the forest again, the fog thickens around us, curling like smoke through the trees. I can’t shake the feeling that something is about to happen. Something bigger than us—bigger than this war we’re waging. And even though Shadow walks beside me, guarding me, I see the same fear reflected in his eyes.

Something is hunting us, and I don’t know if we’ll make it out.

Hours pass—or maybe more—before we finally reach the refuge. It’s hidden, far from any familiar paths, deep within a secret clearing. When we arrive, I feel it immediately: something is off. The refuge carries a weight, an oppressive presence, as though even the trees are watching us. The entrance is shielded by large rocks and thick vines, but the moment we step inside, the air shifts.

“It’s a good place to hide,” Shadow says, his voice low, “but the problem isn’t staying hidden. It’s how far we can run before they catch up.”

“I don’t like this place,” Garret adds, scanning the woods with wary eyes.

I feel it too. There’s something wrong here. A strange silence presses against us, like the whole forest is holding its breath, waiting.

But before I can speak, I hear it—a crack in the distance, like something approaching through the trees.

“What was that?” I ask, my voice tight with dread.

“Stay alert,” Garret commands.

And in that moment, I know: Caleb isn’t alone. Something else is coming for us. And we won’t escape easily.

My body tenses, and though I try to stay calm, fear climbs my spine like cold fingers. Shadow is closer than ever, his hand locked around mine with a grip that speaks more than words. But as we move toward the refuge, the echo of footsteps in the distance makes me wonder—

Have we finally gone too far?

The game has changed. And whatever waits for us beyond this clearing… it doesn’t intend to let us leave unharmed.