THE WARNING

CHAPTER 15.

The Warning.

The tension that filled us at that moment was utterly unbelievable. As Kaiden and I stood behind the abandoned warehouse, we couldn't help but wonder about what had gone wrong.

Even though the moonlight shone upon us, I was still worried that it wasn't enough to illuminate my dark life, and give me all the hope that I desired.

Now, I am scared of the worst. I was scared that the conversation that we had about Thane was about to destroy me. I didn't know how possible it was, but I found it really absurd. 

Just as I was still trying to process the hard feelings that I had at that moment, I realized that a footstep was walking towards me.

As the sound came close, I closed my eyes in fear. At that moment, I knew that the worst could befall me. 

A shadow emerged from the parking lot. It was Elara, my best friend. To be honest, I didn't even know how to feel at that moment.

“Rory!” she called out to me, with fear in her voice.

Immediately, I walked out of my hiding place in fear. "Elara, what could the problem be?”

She paused for a while, before responding to me. On a second thought, she glanced through the place like she was searching for something. Thane's disciples had found out that they'd seen Kaiden in secret. They plan to confront you, as they think that you've betrayed Thane, and they're really mad at you."

Immediately she said that, my heart sank into my belly. "I don't understand. What do you mean by that? How possible is that? What do they even want from me?"

“Rory, they're coming to punish you. " They want to destroy you. " They are coming for you, and I think that you can't allow them to see you here. " You can't!” She said with tension in her voice, as she held my already shaky hands.

Suddenly, Kaiden stepped into the moonlight, as his presence commanded a sense of urgency. At that moment, I knew that I really needed to do something.

“What kind of punishment are they going to give her?” he asked with a whisper, as he spoke directly to Elara, who was obviously shaken by the latest development.

Without wasting time, Elara shifted her gaze on us. Indeed, she was adamant about what she was saying . "Listen to me, Rory. They will definitely stop at nothing in getting back to you, for daring to go against Thane's orders. There's not much time left."

Immediately, I angrily responded back to her. “The last time I checked , I didn't do anything wrong, so I'm not going to run away. I'll face them, because they just can't threaten me, and get away with it."

“Please, listen to me, Rory. " This isn't just about you. " It's about what they might do to you, by trying to disobey Thane." At that moment, Elara was obviously worried about me. “They might not give you a second chance to live. They also don't mind destroying you, either."

As Kaiden looked at me, I realized that he was trying to take his time to process what Elara had said. “The truth is you aren't safe in this place, Rory. I think we need to find a safe place for you. Somewhere that they wouldn't be able to catch you."

“No!” I almost shouted in anger. “I won't let them turn me into a coward." They can't make me vanish like a ghost."

“Remember, your survival depends on the decisions you take," he responded with a calm and resolute voice. 

“Rory, those people are dangerous and evil. They don't even feel pity for anyone. " I doubt you know what they're capable of doing.” He said to me with a nervous look of concern, as he tried to convince me about what could go wrong.

“So, you think I can't defend myself, right?” I asked with newfound boldness. I knew that if I didn't trust myself, then no one else would believe in me.

“I love the fact that you're bold,” he smiled. However, Thane's followers would definitely stop at nothing to get to you. They're extremely dangerous, and they could destroy you.

Immediately, Elara nodded in agreement. “Rory, please, I know that you want to stand up for yourself, but I don't think that this is the right time for you to show your strength. If Thane and his disciples eventually find you, they won't hesitate to destroy you."

As I opened my mouth to speak, I was interrupted by the noise that came from the direction that Elara had come from. At that moment, I became worried.

Immediately, my mind began to pound in fear. I couldn't even think straight. Suddenly, the dawn of realization hit me. I just realized that they were closer than I thought.

I immediately turned to Elara in fear. “You need to leave here, before they see you. Now!"

“Rory, I'm...” she tried to speak, but Kaiden cut her short.

“Get out of here. " Leave!” he commanded her with all the seriousness that he could mutter. “Get out of here, Elara". Don't become collateral damage, and start paying for what you know nothing about."

“I can't leave you behind, Rory." She cried out, as she held my hands in fear.

“Just go, Elara!” I begged her in fear. “You'll only be used as a scape goat, and that's not what I want for you." 

After hesitating for a long while, she finally ran back into the woods. At that moment, the footsteps were almost closing in on us. Now, in no time, she had already disappeared into the woods. 

Suddenly, Kaiden moved closer to me, and grabbed my hands. “We need to hide and protect ourselves. If they see you here, they won't hesitate to destroy you."

Well, I wasn't going to accept any of that. Even though I was scared, I was never going to allow them to intimidate me into retreating.

“No, I won't hide! I insist on standing my ground. They can't intimidate me."

“You're not defending yourself. " You're obviously acting ignorant, and it'll cost you.”

Immediately, he stepped forward, as he looked directly into my eyes. "Rory, you have to think fast. If they find you here, they'll make you a scape goat, and teach you a terrible lesson."

“No! " I can't continue to live in fear! " I'm done being cajoled into doing what I don't want to do” I almost screamed at the top of my voice, as I felt tired of the kind of life that I was living.

Suddenly, I noticed that a group of masked people emerged from the shadows. They were armed with the worst of weapons, and they looked very evil.

At that moment, my eyes caught something dangerous. They were with knives, and they looked like they were ready to do their worst.

“Rory!” Kaiden called out to me, as he tried to drag me out. I was scared to my bone marrow, as I didn't even make any move to escape. I was ready for the worst.

Suddenly, one of the figures, emerged forward with a sinister smile. I knew at that moment that the worst might befall me.

“Finally, we've found the little witch." He mumbled with mockery.

“Since two can play the game, why not come out and play with Thane?" he mockingly taunted me with a firm gaze.

Even at that, I still felt Kaiden's hands on my shoulders, as he tried to protect me from the impending doom. “Rory, let's go!"

Well, I wasn't going to run. I was done allowing anyone to treat me any way they wanted. “What game?!” I stepped forward with a brave look, as I watched as the masked figures exchanged glances.

They looked at each other, but the tall figure walked back towards me, with an evil gaze.

“Oh! " She's fierce! " I can see that," he said with a look of malice on his face. 

"Thane wants you back, and you know exactly where you belong. However, you know the consequences that come with betraying him..."

Immediately he said that, I became engulfed by fear. However, I was never going to back down. “Well, I'm sorry to burst your bubbles. I'm not afraid of Thane, or any of you, his useless followers."

For sure, I knew that they were shocked to hear it. However, they had to cover up their insecurities.

"Useless? How dare you call us useless? Well, you'll see how useless we're, when we succeed in breaking your soul."

Without warning, he charged at me, but Kaiden stepped in to save me, at the right time. "Move back!” he barked at him with a beautiful surge of energy.

At that second, there was a sudden shift in the atmosphere. I noticed that a lot of figures were beginning to emerge from the shadows.

Immediately, I noticed that a crowd were coming from behind me, and they would definitely stop at nothing to destroy me.

“Rory, run for your life, now!” Kaiden growled at me, as he tried to pull me away, but I didn't oblige.

I was ready for the worst.

Suddenly, they closed in on us, and I must say, they were literally too many to count.

However, I recognized one of them, as he emerged.

"I command you to lie down, now” the figure spoke with evilness.