Dawn came far too soon.
The wind still howled through the trees, carrying with it the scent of rain, but the fire had long since died out. Elian felt the chill settle into his bones, a constant reminder that warmth was fleeting in this world of uncertainty.
Kael was still unconscious, her face pale and drawn. The girl — Rae — had moved quietly through the night, gathering what little she could from their surroundings. Her movements were sharp, efficient, but there was an underlying sadness in her every gesture that Elian couldn't quite place.
The air was thick with silence, but the kind that felt like it was waiting to crack open.
Elian sat on the floor of the shack, the IV pole still gripped tightly in his hands, staring at the darkened sky through the broken roof. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, but he forced himself to stay awake. He had to.
If they didn't move soon, they would be caught.
And if they were caught... there would be no mercy.
---
Rae suddenly straightened, her eyes narrowing at the distant treeline. Elian followed her gaze but saw nothing.
"Are we being followed?" he asked, his voice rough, barely a whisper.
Rae didn't answer immediately, but her hand went to the small knife tucked into her belt. She crouched low, her posture defensive. There was a tension in the air now, something heavier than before.
"We should leave," she said, her voice low, almost too calm.
Elian didn't need to be told twice. He moved swiftly, carefully shifting Kael's limp form, trying not to wake her. The weight of her body made it harder, but they had no time to lose.
Rae was already at the door, peering out into the growing light. Her eyes flickered back to Elian, her expression unreadable.
"They know we're here," she said. "They'll be coming soon."
---
They moved fast.
The forest was thick with underbrush, but Rae led the way, her steps sure and silent. Elian followed closely, Kael in his arms, every step feeling like an eternity.
It was then that Elian heard it — a soft sound, almost imperceptible, but unmistakable.
The crunch of leaves.
He froze, his heart racing. Rae stopped ahead of him, motioning for silence.
Then, the sound grew louder. Closer.
Elian's grip tightened around Kael. His mind raced, calculating the distance, the time they had left.
"They're here," Rae muttered, eyes scanning the trees. "We need to move."
---
Without warning, a figure darted out from the trees, and before Elian could react, a shot rang out, narrowly missing him.
The world seemed to freeze for a heartbeat.
Then, chaos erupted.
Rae shoved Elian to the ground, taking the brunt of the hit herself. A cry tore from her throat, but she didn't falter. With a speed that was almost unnatural, she pulled her knife from its sheath and launched herself at their attackers.
Elian scrambled to his feet, heart hammering. He pulled Kael closer, trying to shield her with his body.
Rae was a blur of motion, her blade flashing in the dim morning light. Elian watched in horror as she sliced through one of the attackers, her movements swift and brutal.
The remaining figures hesitated, then regrouped, taking cover behind the trees.
But they weren't just armed with knives. Elian could hear the distinct hum of guns being readied, the tension thickening around them.
Rae's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"Run!" she shouted.
---
Elian didn't need to be told twice.
He turned, pushing Kael ahead of him, each step a battle against the pull of terror that wanted to drag him down.
The sound of gunfire echoed behind them, too close for comfort.
But then — a roar.
A loud, bone-shaking roar that seemed to come from the very earth itself.
The attackers froze.
Elian dared a glance over his shoulder, and his blood ran cold.
A massive creature — half-human, half-beast — stepped out from the woods. Its eyes glowed an eerie shade of green, and its body was covered in thick, matted fur. It roared again, its voice vibrating through the very air.
For a moment, everything stood still.
Then, chaos resumed.
---
The beast tore into the attackers like paper. Elian's mind struggled to process what he was seeing as it ripped through the figures with terrifying ease, tearing them apart in a frenzy of violence.
The air was thick with the smell of blood and death.
But the worst part wasn't the creature's savagery.
It was the fact that it was helping them.
Elian couldn't understand it. He couldn't make sense of any of it.
"Move!" Rae's voice cut through his confusion. "We don't have time!"
She grabbed his arm, pulling him forward. He stumbled but regained his footing, pushing Kael harder.
The monster had already disappeared back into the trees, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
But the aftermath of its arrival lingered in the air — a feeling of pure, unbridled power.
---
They ran for what felt like hours.
Elian's legs burned, his chest tight with every breath. But they couldn't stop. Not yet. They weren't safe.
Not yet.
Finally, when Elian thought he couldn't go on, they reached a small, hidden clearing.
Rae collapsed against a tree, her breathing ragged.
"We're safe," she muttered, though her voice lacked conviction.
Elian didn't know what to think anymore. His mind was racing. His heart was still hammering in his chest. But one thing was clear.
They had survived. For now.
And the world they were running from was only just beginning to show its true face.
---