Shadows

*(Lena’s Point of View)*

The air inside the forest felt dense, heavy with moisture and the weight of anticipation. As we moved deeper into the woods, the adrenaline that had fueled me earlier began to fade, leaving exhaustion in its place. Kael walked beside me in silence, but I could feel the worry radiating from him with every glance he cast my way. He didn’t know. Not yet.

I needed to tell him the truth—that the hunt, the cultists, the bounty hunters—everything had been orchestrated by Thorne. The man I once trusted had betrayed me, and all of this was part of his plan. But how could I explain that Thorne was still in control, pulling the strings, even now?

“Are you okay?” Kael asked, breaking the silence.

I nodded, though the knot in my stomach tightened further. “We have to keep moving. Time’s running out.”

He studied me carefully, his bright eyes filled with suspicion. “Lena… what aren’t you telling me?”

The truth burned at the back of my throat, and holding it in was like twisting a knife in an open wound. I couldn’t keep it from him any longer. He deserved to know.

“It was Thorne,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. “He’s behind all of this—the cult, the hunters. He sent them. He planned everything.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed, his expression shifting between disbelief and anger. “Thorne? Why would he do that?”

“Because he wants to break me,” I whispered, my voice heavy with the weight of realization. “He doesn’t just want to capture me, Kael. He wants to destroy who I am. And the easiest way to do that... is through you.”

Kael’s face darkened as the meaning of my words sank in.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” he asked, hurt flickering in his voice.

“I wanted to believe he wouldn’t go this far—that if I ignored it, he would stop.” I clenched my fists. “But Thorne never stops.”

The tense silence between us was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps in the underbrush. The villagers who had stayed behind appeared among the trees, their faces pale with fear.

“They’re coming,” Martim warned, his voice shaking. “We couldn’t hold them off much longer.”

Kael quickly took command. “We need to move. If we stay here, they’ll overwhelm us.”

“I can’t keep running.” The frustration and anger within me boiled over. “That’s exactly what Thorne wants—to wear me down until I have nothing left.”

“So what do you want to do?” Kael asked, stepping closer, his gaze intense.

“We face him.” My voice was resolute. “We end this, once and for all.”

Kael searched my face for a moment, reading the determination there. Despite the fear in his eyes, he nodded. “I’m with you.”

Before we could move, a piercing scream echoed through the forest. The cultists were closing in, and our window for action was rapidly closing.

“Come on,” Kael said, grabbing my hand. We sprinted toward the denser part of the woods, the villagers following close behind.

Every shadow around us felt heavier, darker, as if Thorne himself was watching from the edges of my mind. A cold presence pressed against my thoughts, and I knew—we weren’t far from him.

“He’s coming,” I whispered, bracing myself for the confrontation I had dreaded.

Kael tightened his grip on my hand. “When he does, we’ll be ready.”

But before I could respond, a sudden burst of light tore through the sky, illuminating the forest for a brief moment. The energy that surged from it was unmistakable, chilling and familiar.

It was Thorne. I was sure of it.

A shadow emerged from the trees, moving with deliberate grace. It wasn’t just another cultist. It was him.

Kael stepped in front of me, drawing his blade, ready to fight. But before I could react, Thorne raised his hand, and a wave of dark energy crashed over us like a violent storm.

I felt the crushing weight of his power pressing down on my body, pinning me to the ground. The world spun as I struggled to breathe, my vision flickering.

The last thing I saw was Kael being thrown into the air, his body skidding across the forest floor before slamming into a tree with a sickening thud.

“No!” I tried to scream, but the sound caught in my throat as darkness crept in from the edges of my mind.

Then, through the haze of pain and confusion, Thorne’s voice echoed, low and filled with menace:

“Did you really think you could escape me, Lena? This ends now.”

A searing pain pulsed through my body as I fought to stay conscious. My limbs felt heavy, as though the weight of Thorne’s presence had seeped into my very bones. Darkness pressed in, threatening to consume me, but I couldn’t give in—not now.

Kael lay crumpled against the tree, unmoving. Panic gripped my chest, tightening like a vice. I forced myself to breathe, focusing on the flicker of energy still alive inside me. Thorne hadn’t won yet.

“You’re stronger than this,” I whispered to myself, though it felt like a lie.

Thorne’s shadow loomed closer, his footsteps deliberate and slow. I could feel his gaze piercing through me, a predator savoring the moment before striking.

“We’re not done,” I muttered, clenching my fists as I willed my strength to return.

Suddenly, Kael groaned, his body stirring. Hope surged within me—he was still alive. But before I could act, Thorne raised his hand, dark energy swirling at his fingertips, ready to unleash another devastating blow.

“Stay down, Lena,” Thorne warned, his voice cold. “This is inevitable. You were always mine.”

But something snapped inside me—a fury I had buried for too long ignited. I would not let him win. With a defiant scream, I channeled the light within me, sending a wave of energy outward, bright enough to blind even the darkest shadow.

Thorne staggered, caught off guard by the force of my attack. For the first time, I saw something flicker across his expression: surprise—and fear.

This wasn’t over. Not yet.