Chapter 50: The Shadows Close In Lucas POV

As we made our way through the underbrush, the environment was strangely silent. We had to rely on our instincts to guide us across the uneven landscape because the sunlight hardly entered the dense canopy above. My senses were highly aware, pausing at the sound of rustling leaves or the snap of a twig.

"Do you believe he is still pursuing us?" Anna's question was hardly heard above a whisper.

I gave her another look. Her movements were sluggish, and her face was pale, but there was a resolve in her eyes that hadn't changed since we had fled.

"He won't stop," I stated somberly. "Not until he gets his way."

"And what is that exactly?" Her tone was tinged with anger as she pressed.

I paused. "You."

Her hands clenched at her sides, and I could see her breath catch. "He must first murder me."

I didn't answer. I didn't have to. Both of us were aware that Kane, or worse, Oliver, would be happy to kill her to establish their authority.

With each stride, the tension between us grew as we carried on in quiet. We weren't alone, as my gut told me, and the tingle at the back of my neck proved it.

I held up a hand and ordered, "Stop."

Anna's eyes darted about as she froze. "What is it?"

I listened for a sound but didn't react right away. Then it came to me—a small rustle to our left that was too intentional to be the wind.

I drew my dagger and whispered, "Stay near me."

The shadows surrounding us moved, and figures appeared out of the darkness before she could reply. Five criminals circled us like animals, their eyes gleaming with ill intent.

One of them scoffed, his voice brimming with scorn, "Hmm. Who is here with us?"

With her back against mine, Anna took a step toward me. Despite the terror I could sense in her voice, she said, "Let me guess. You were sent by Oliver."

There was a low, guttural laugh from the rogue. "Wise girl. This simplifies things for us."

"Maybe it's easier for you," I murmured, holding the dagger more tightly. "But not for your boss when he learns that you didn't succeed."

The rogue's smile wavered, but it returned quickly. "Big words for an outnumbered person."

I didn't answer. Rather, I changed my position, bracing myself for the fight I knew was coming.

I sidestepped the first rogue's lunge, slamming my blade into his side before pulling it out and pushing him away. Another approached me from the right, but Anna was faster and swung a branch she had picked up from the ground. When it hit the rogue's head, it cracked, and he fell to the forest floor.

"Behind you!" Anna yelled.

I whirled just in time to deflect a hit that was going for my neck, and the force of it sent me reeling back. My wounded side began to ache, but I chose to ignore it and cut the rogue's arm, causing a yell of pain.

Beside me, Anna fought valiantly, her actions driven by rage and despair. She lacked training, but her keen instincts and unwavering will made up for it.

The rogues were unrelenting, and the fight was vicious. Every one we removed seemed to be replaced by another. My wounds reopened as my body screamed in pain, but I couldn't afford to stop.

"Lucas!" As I turned, I saw a rogue snatching Anna by the arm, and her voice was scared.

"Give her up!" I charged at him with a yell.

Using her as a shield, he grinned, but his conceit eventually led to his demise. Anna's elbow drove into his gut as she twisted in his grasp. He doubled over, and I quickly stabbed him in the chest with my dagger.

The third outlaw ran away into the darkness, his footprints vanishing from view. I was breathing deeply and drenched in blood, some of it mine and some not.

"Are you alright?" I turned to Anna and asked.

Her hands were shaking, but she nodded. "I'm all right. You?"

Despite the severe pain in my side saying otherwise, I responded, "I'll be alive."

We had no time to mope over our losses. The fight had been quite noisy, and I was certain that additional renegades would soon be hunting us down.

I took her hand and led her further into the forest, saying, "This way."

We found a secret cave tucked away between two massive stones after what seemed like hours. Not much, but it would provide us somewhere to stay the night.

My body finally succumbed to the fatigue as I fell against the cave wall. Anna, whose face was white but determined, knelt next to me.

She pointed to my side and said, "Let me see."

I ignored her, saying, "It's okay."

"Lucas," she replied firmly as she fixed me with her eyes. "Give me a look."

With reluctance, I lifted my shirt to reveal the jagged cut across my ribcage. She ripped a piece of cloth from her shirt and pressed it against the wound, winced but without pause.

"This will be painful," she warned.

As she tied the makeshift bandage, I yelled in pain, but I whispered, "I've had worse."

Despite the sting, her touch was relaxing, and her hands were soft. She said, "You're lucky it's not deeper."

"I wouldn't use the word lucky," I stated, grinning wryly.

Her face softened as she sat back. "I didn't need your help back there."

"Yes, I did," I answered plainly.

She looked into my eyes, and for a few seconds, it felt like the load of all we had experienced hung between us.

Her voice was hardly heard above a whisper when she said, "Why?"

Unable to reply, I averted my gaze. The truth was too complex and unvarnished.

Instead, I leaned back against the cave wall and mumbled, "We should rest."

Even though I closed my eyes and felt her eyes stay on me, she didn't press me. I fell asleep easily and was pulled into an odd, vivid dream.

Her silver hair glowed in the darkness as the Moon Goddess appeared in front of me. I felt insignificant because of the old wisdom in her piercing eyes.

She continued, "You have to make a decision," and I could still hear her voice.

"What do you choose?" I asked, but I wasn't sure if I spoke it out loud or if it was just a thought.

"Here or your past," she said in a tone that was both soft and strong.

The dream ended before I could ask her what she meant, and I woke up startled, Anna's worried face looming over me.

"Lucas? Are you alright?" she asked, worry in her voice.

Despite my beating heart, I nodded. I was filled with a sense of dread that lingered after hearing the Moon Goddess's remarks.

"We must move," I murmured, keeping my composure in spite of my internal conflict.

I felt that our voyage was just getting started, and the night wasn't over yet.