Chapter 26: Finding Evelyn

A few minutes later, she was deep in the thick vegetation, far enough from the command center to be temporarily safe but not far enough to feel entirely out of danger. The men who were supposed to capture her found nothing but an empty command post. Evelyn, meanwhile, kept weaving through the trees, searching for a way to signal her location to Vykhor without giving herself away.

That’s when an idea struck her. Skye, the sharpshooter, would have the best chance of spotting her thanks to her exceptional observation skills. Evelyn remembered a unique feature of the local vegetation: a certain plant that released bright-colored spores when it felt threatened. These spores were a vivid red, and even from a distance, their glow in the ambient light would be impossible to miss for someone like Skye.

Evelyn knew where to find these plants. She adjusted her course slightly, heading toward a small grove where she had noticed the vegetation a few days earlier. She could only hope that Skye, Rax, and especially Vykhor would understand the signal. The problem was, she wasn’t sure if she could handle all her pursuers, especially if they’d managed to jam her geolocation.

She finally reached the grove and quickly spotted the plants she needed. Evelyn knelt beside one, taking a moment to plan her move. She had to act fast: strike the plant hard enough to release the spores and then vanish into the forest before her pursuers spotted her.

With one last glance around to make sure she wasn’t being watched, Evelyn struck the plant’s base with a stick. A cloud of red spores burst into the air, spreading all around her. She immediately backed away, blending into the surrounding shadows, her heart pounding. Now she had to move quickly, because while the spores were a signal for her allies, they could also alert her enemies to her recent presence.

As she moved deeper into the woods, she silently prayed that Skye and the others would catch the signal and understand what she was trying to do. She knew Vykhor must be furious not being able to locate her, but she couldn’t afford to stay still. She slipped further into the forest, using every tree and bush as cover.

Evelyn forced herself to stay focused. If her pursuers found her, she’d have no choice but to use her bracelet to defend herself, but she knew it might not be enough. Her objective was clear: keep moving, avoid capture, and find a way to contact Vykhor and the others without giving herself away. She clenched her jaw, determined to survive this ordeal.

Skye was in position, her sniper rifle ready, when she saw a vivid red cloud rise above the forest canopy. She squinted, intrigued by the unusual sight. The colorful spores were characteristic of a local plant, one only fools or desperate people would provoke. An amused grin spread across her lips as she put the pieces together. Evelyn. That human was a lot smarter than most men Skye had ever known.

She couldn’t help but laugh softly, a rare sound from her, before alerting Vykhor and Rax over the comms. “I’ve got a visual on a cloud of spores. I bet that’s our little genius trying to send us a signal. No one else would’ve thought to use that plant to mark their location.”

Vykhor, who was already heading toward the area, quickened his pace when he heard Skye’s words. He knew Evelyn had probably already moved on, but he hoped to run into the men chasing her. He could feel rage boiling inside him, a cold anger fueled by the fear he’d felt when he lost contact with her. Those who dared to hunt her were going to pay.

He quickly reached the area where the spores still lingered in the air, drifting through beams of light breaking through the trees. Vykhor paused for a moment, scanning the surroundings. As he expected, Evelyn was no longer there, but the tracks on the ground made it clear her pursuers were close. He clenched his fists, his prosthetic arm humming softly as he readied for a fight.

It didn’t take long for him to spot the group of men tracking her, their clumsy movements giving them away. Without hesitation, Vykhor launched himself at them with controlled violence, his body becoming a lethal weapon. His fury erupted as he dove into the fray, each strike precise and brutal, leaving his enemies no chance. Every blow carried the anger he felt at the thought of Evelyn being captured.

Rax, who had followed closely behind, joined the fight, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. He despised traitors more than anything, and getting to let loose after the Kharok incident was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. He fought alongside Vykhor with deadly efficiency, his cyborg enhancements allowing him to anticipate their enemies’ movements and retaliate with ruthless precision.

Within minutes, the assailants were neutralized, their bodies sprawled across the forest floor. Vykhor, still on high alert, wiped the blood from his prosthetic before turning to Rax. “Good coordination,” he said simply, though the rage still simmered beneath his calm exterior. He had to find Evelyn. Now.

“Kryna, restore communications,” he ordered sharply, his voice tinged with impatience. He needed to make sure she was safe.

“Communications restored,” the AI responded a moment later. Vykhor immediately opened a channel to Evelyn, his heart pounding a little faster than usual.

“Evelyn, where are you?” Vykhor demanded, his voice tight with worry he struggled to contain. He’d faced titanic battles and evaded deadly foes, but the thought of Evelyn in danger unsettled him in a way he never expected.

An agonizing silence stretched out, each second feeling like an eternity. Finally, Evelyn’s voice crackled through the comms, tinged with a mix of relief and embarrassment. “Oh, I’m safe… more or less. Let’s just say I stumbled into a hunter’s trap and got stuck in a net.” She let out an exasperated sigh. “My clumsiness strikes again.”

Skye, listening in, burst out laughing, her amusement echoing through the channel. “Well, you might be a genius, but you’re sure unlucky with traps!” she teased. “Looks like we found your weak spot.” Her laughter, though teasing, brought a lightheartedness that made a few mercenaries smile.

Even Rax, the usually stoic cyborg hacker, cracked a small grin. “Hang tight, Evelyn,” he said with a touch of irony. “Vykhor’s on his way to rescue his brilliant but unlucky partner.”

Vykhor wasted no time. His muscles tensed as he sprinted toward Evelyn’s last known location, guided by Kryna’s directions and a gut instinct he could barely control. The thought of her being trapped, vulnerable, and exposed drove him mad with worry. As he raced through the underbrush, he realized just how important Evelyn had become to him, beyond just partnership or missions. It was something deeper, more personal. A connection he wasn’t ready to admit but that tightened around his heart every day.

He finally found her, hanging in a crude net, her white hair a mess, her expression a mix of resignation and embarrassment. Evelyn looked up at him, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Sorry,” she said in a small voice, clearly mortified by her predicament.

Vykhor paused for a moment, taking in the sight of her. A massive wave of relief washed over him, softening his usually harsh features, and he couldn’t help but smile—a rare, genuine smile. “It’s alright, Evelyn,” he said as he approached. “You did well. You’re safe now.” He drew a blade from his Kael’tarien armor and, with expert precision, cut the net, catching Evelyn to help her down.

He set her gently on the ground, his strong hands steadying her so she wouldn’t stumble. Evelyn straightened up, a sheepish yet grateful smile on her lips. “I guess I’m not as skilled as I’d like to be,” she admitted, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment.

Vykhor looked at her for a moment, his thoughts racing. He realized just how much she meant to him, more than he’d ever imagined. But he kept his stoic mask in place, showing only that faint smile. “That’s why you have me,” he said softly, his voice unusually tender for someone so fierce. Evelyn’s heart skipped a beat at those simple words, and despite the ridiculousness of the situation, she couldn’t help but feel safe, standing so close to him.

Skye, who had been watching from a distance, crossed her arms, a knowing smile on her lips. Maybe Evelyn was right, she thought. Maybe Vykhor Kael’seth, with his reputation as a ruthless warrior, was far more complex than he appeared. Those two really did make a strange pair, but there was no denying the strength of their connection, something rare and unexpected.

Skye joined them shortly after, unable to resist one last jab with a grin. “Looks like I’ll have to keep an eye on you, Evelyn. Especially if you have a knack for falling into traps.”

Evelyn blushed a bit, but she couldn’t help but smile. “I promise I’ll try to be more careful next time.”

Vykhor, satisfied for the moment, turned to the others. “Let’s move. We still have work to do.”

And together, they pressed on, leaving the incident behind but with a newfound sense of camaraderie. Evelyn, though embarrassed by her mishap, felt closer to her companions. And for Vykhor, the relief of knowing she was safe finally calmed the storm of rage within him. But he knew that, despite this victory, greater challenges lay ahead. And this time, he wouldn’t let anyone get near Evelyn without a fight.

But the evening following Kharok's betrayal was heavy with tension. The camp, usually buzzing with the chatter of rebels and the clatter of equipment, was now weighed down by a suffocating atmosphere. The rebels and mercenaries eyed each other warily, everyone on edge after the day's events. The fact that one of the mercenaries had turned traitor had created a rift, and even though Vykhor and his team had proven their loyalty, suspicion still lingered among the rebels.

Vykhor, for his part, stayed vigilant. He could feel the hostile gazes directed at him and his team, but he knew that was just part of the job. Trust, once broken, was hard to rebuild. He kept to the shadows, scanning the area with a watchful eye, his mind constantly focused on Evelyn’s safety.

Suddenly, he caught a quick movement behind him. Reflexively, he turned his head, but it was too late. A rebel, clearly enraged by Kharok's betrayal, had crept up behind him, a dagger in hand, ready to strike. Vykhor, always on high alert, was already bracing to counter, but before he could act, a familiar figure lunged onto the rebel’s back.