Chapter 64: Desperate Gamble

The camp was eerily quiet, the only sounds the crackling of the fire and the distant rustle of wind through the trees. As Aiden and Robert crouched low, hiding behind the thick underbrush, they could just make out Gabriella and her team moving like shadows toward the tent where Lily was being held. The stakes had never felt higher.

Robert, despite his weakened state, was tense, his hands gripping the hilt of a knife that Aiden had handed him. His face was a mask of determination and rage, but there was also fear—fear for his daughter, who had suffered under these monsters for far too long.

"Stay low, and wait," Aiden whispered, his eyes fixed on Gabriella's group. They were just about to reach the tent, Gabriella leading the way with her bow drawn, ready to strike at any sign of danger. “They know what they’re doing.”

“I can’t... I can’t wait any longer,” Robert rasped, his voice raw. “She’s in there with them. I should’ve done something earlier.”

“And you would have died,” Aiden replied, gripping Robert’s arm firmly. “You storm in there now, and you’ll get her killed, too. We stick to the plan. Gabriella will get her out.”

Robert’s jaw clenched, but he nodded, knowing that Aiden was right. He couldn’t afford to make another mistake, not when they were so close.

Just then, a faint sound came from the direction of the tent—a rustling of canvas, the soft scrape of a boot against the dirt. Aiden froze, his heart pounding. He saw Gabriella motion for her group to stop. Someone was inside the tent with Lily.

A figure emerged from the shadows—one of the bandits, a tall, muscular man with a cruel sneer on his face. He was dragging Lily out of the tent, his hand gripping her arm tightly as she struggled against him. Her face was pale and gaunt, her eyes hollow from the torment she had endured, but there was still a spark of defiance in her.

“Get up,” the bandit snarled, yanking her roughly toward the fire. “The boss wants you tonight.”

Robert’s breath hitched, his entire body going rigid with fury. He started to rise, but Aiden pushed him back down, his eyes flashing a warning.

“Wait,” Aiden hissed. “Just wait.”

Gabriella and her team were in position now, hidden in the shadows just a few feet from the bandit and Lily. Aiden could see the tension in Gabriella’s stance, the arrow nocked in her bow as she silently drew it back. She was waiting for the right moment, the perfect opportunity to strike.

The bandit shoved Lily to the ground near the fire, laughing cruelly as she stumbled and fell. He was about to lean down, his hand reaching for her when Gabriella loosed the arrow.

It flew through the air with deadly accuracy, striking the bandit in the throat. He let out a gurgled cry, clutching at his neck as he staggered backward, blood spurting from the wound. He collapsed to the ground in a heap, his body twitching as the life drained from him.

Lily gasped, scrambling away from the dying man, her eyes wide with shock. Gabriella was already at her side, pulling her to her feet and whispering urgent reassurances.

Robert exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his body trembling with relief and pent-up adrenaline. “Lily…” he whispered, barely able to believe it.

Aiden placed a hand on his shoulder. “They’ve got her. But we’re not out of this yet. Stay ready.”

As Gabriella and her team began to guide Lily away from the camp, the stillness of the night was shattered by a sudden shout. One of the bandits, standing watch on the far side of the camp, had spotted the commotion and was sounding the alarm.

“INTRUDERS!”

The shout echoed through the camp, and within moments, chaos erupted. Bandits came pouring out of tents and lean-tos, weapons drawn, eyes wild with confusion and fury. The element of surprise was gone.

“Get ready!” Aiden barked, drawing his sword. “It’s about to get messy.”

Robert, despite his injuries, rose to his feet, clutching the knife tightly. His gaze was locked on Lily, who was being hurried away by Gabriella’s group. He couldn’t let anything happen to her—not now, not after all they had gone through.

The first bandit charged toward them, a hulking brute of a man wielding a crude axe. Aiden stepped forward, meeting him head-on. Their weapons clashed with a deafening clang, sparks flying as steel met steel. Aiden gritted his teeth, pushing back against the bandit’s brute strength.

Robert moved to the side, taking on a smaller, wiry bandit who came at him with a knife. Despite his exhaustion, Robert fought with the ferocity of a man who had nothing left to lose. He dodged the bandit’s wild slashes, his movements sharp and precise. With a swift motion, Robert buried his knife in the man’s chest, his eyes blazing with righteous fury.

More bandits swarmed toward them, and the fight descended into chaos. Aiden and Robert fought side by side, cutting through their attackers with brutal efficiency. But the bandits kept coming, their numbers overwhelming.

Gabriella’s team was now fully engaged in the fight, trying to protect Lily while fending off the attackers. Gabriella loosed arrows with deadly precision, each shot finding its mark, but the bandits were relentless.

Aiden glanced toward Lily, who was being shielded by one of Gabriella’s fighters. She was pale and shaking, but she was alive—and that was all that mattered right now.

“We have to get them out of here!” Aiden shouted to Gabriella over the din of battle. “We can’t hold them off much longer!”

Gabriella nodded, her face grim. “Fall back! We’re pulling out!”

With a sharp whistle, Gabriella signaled her team to retreat. They began moving back toward the woods, fighting off the bandits as they went. Robert, his eyes never leaving Lily, followed close behind, his breathing ragged but determined.

Aiden brought up the rear, cutting down any bandit who got too close. His muscles burned with exertion, but he pushed through the pain, focusing only on the mission—getting Robert and Lily out alive.

The group reached the edge of the forest, where their horses were waiting. Aiden quickly helped Robert onto one of the horses, then turned to lift Lily up in front of him. She was light as a feather, her body trembling with exhaustion and fear, but she held on tightly as Aiden swung up behind her.

“Go!” Gabriella shouted, spurring her horse forward.

The group galloped into the forest, the sound of hooves pounding against the dirt, the wind whipping through their hair. Behind them, the bandits were left scrambling, their disorganized shouts fading into the distance as the group disappeared into the dense trees.

They rode hard for what felt like hours, putting as much distance between themselves and the bandit camp as possible. When they finally slowed, the moon was high in the sky, casting a pale light over the forest. The group came to a stop in a small clearing, their horses breathing heavily from the long ride.

Aiden dismounted, carefully helping Lily down from the horse. She was pale, her eyes glazed with shock, but she was alive. He handed her over to Robert, who pulled her into a fierce embrace, his body shaking with relief.

“Lily,” Robert whispered, his voice choked with emotion. “I thought I’d lost you…”

Lily clung to her father, tears streaming down her face. “I thought you’d never find me.”

“We’re safe now,” Robert said, his voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and fierce determination. “No one will ever hurt you again.”

Aiden stood back, watching the reunion with a heavy heart. They had made it out, but the cost had been high, and the danger wasn’t over yet. There were still bandits out there, and they would be coming after them.

Gabriella approached Aiden, her face etched with exhaustion but also with a quiet satisfaction. “We did it,” she said softly.

Aiden nodded, though he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered in his gut. “For now,” he replied, his eyes scanning the dark forest around them. “But this isn’t over yet.”

Gabriella followed his gaze, her expression hardening. “No, it’s not.”

They stood together in silence, the weight of the battle still heavy on their shoulders. But for now, they had won. Robert had his daughter back, and that was all that mattered.

For now, that was enough.