Miles gripped the ship's helm, the cool wind brushing against his face as the vessel sailed through the night sky. His thoughts churned as he gazed into the horizon, the stars scattered like pinpricks of light in the vast darkness.
Why the hell is this creep coming with me to Alpha Dawn anyway? Miles thought, glancing over his shoulder. Maybe he actually has business there. Yeah, that must be it. He nodded to himself, trying to quell his unease. Then another thought struck him like a lightning bolt.
Wait a second—he can enter shadows. Why doesn't he just use that to get to Alpha Dawn?
His brow furrowed, and he turned sharply toward the mast. The place where Vondak had been lounging earlier was now empty.
"Where is he?" Miles muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on the helm. He scanned the deck, a sense of unease creeping over him. "Vondak!" he called out, his voice echoing against the ship's hull.
Suddenly, a hand tapped his shoulder. Miles spun around, his heart leaping into his throat.
"Looking for me?" Vondak's voice was calm, almost amused.
Miles took a step back, his fists instinctively curling as he glared at him. "Would you stop doing that?!"
Vondak tilted his head, his trademark grin spreading across his face. "Relax, Captain. I just thought I'd help before you fly us straight into oblivion."
Miles narrowed his eyes, his scepticism mounting. "What's that supposed to mean?"
With an exasperated sigh, Vondak stepped forward and placed his hands on the helm. "You're headed the wrong way."
Before Miles could protest, Vondak turned the wheel sharply, adjusting their course. The ship groaned as its direction shifted, the wind catching its sails more cleanly.
"There we go," Vondak said, satisfaction in his tone. He stepped back, crossing his arms as he leaned casually against the railing. "You're welcome."
Miles stared at him, torn between annoyance and grudging gratitude. "You couldn't have said something sooner?"
"Well, I wanted to see how long it'd take for you to figure it out." Vondak's grin widened, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. "Besides, this is much more fun."
Miles shook his head, gripping the helm once more. "You're unbelievable."
Vondak chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on the dark expanse of the horizon. The faint hum of the ship's engines underscored the stillness of the moment. Then, without looking at Miles, he spoke.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
Miles froze, his grip tightening on the helm. A chill ran down his spine as Vondak's words hung in the air.
He knows.
Miles' thoughts raced, panic clawing at the edges of his mind. His hands trembled slightly, betraying his outward composure. Did I slip up? Say something I shouldn't have?
In the dense woods, Gale stormed ahead, muttering under his breath. "It's just in your stupid head—nothing's out—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a shadow shifted in the underbrush, and a low, menacing growl echoed through the trees. A massive black wolf lunged from the darkness, its fangs bared and eyes gleaming with malice.
Time seemed to slow as the beast soared toward Gale, its claws extended for a killing strike.
"Look out!" Lilith screamed, but Crimson was already moving.
In one fluid motion, Crimson conjured a gleaming crossbow from thin air. The weapon shimmered in the moonlight as he pulled the trigger, sending a bolt flying. The arrow struck true, piercing the wolf's skull with a sickening thud. The creature crumpled mid-leap, its lifeless body crashing to the forest floor mere inches from Gale.
Crimson lowered the crossbow with a flourish, a smirk playing on his lips. He stepped forward, offering Gale a mock bow. "You're welcome," he said, his tone dripping with smugness.
Gale spun around, his face a mix of shock and irritation. "I didn't need your help!" he snapped, though his unsteady breath betrayed him.
Crimson chuckled, shouldering the crossbow. "Sure you didn't," he replied, his grin widening. "But it's nice to know I've got your back… even if you're too proud to admit it."
Gale glared at him but said nothing, his fists clenching as he turned and stomped away.
Lilith sighed, glancing down at the fallen wolf. "Stay sharp," she muttered.
As Lilith's words hung in the air, the stillness of the forest shattered. Figures began dropping from the treetops, one after another, like raindrops falling in a storm. Their movements were eerily silent, their eyes void of life—a chilling testament to Nox's control.
Crimson's instincts flared. He raised his crossbow, ready to fire.
"Don't shoot them!" Lilith shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "They're just people—Nox is using them to toy with us again!"
But Gale didn't listen. Fury burned in his eyes as he bit into his wrist, crimson blood trickling down his hand. The liquid writhed unnaturally, solidifying into a menacing whip. With a reckless grin, Gale lashed out, the blood whip slicing through the air with a deadly crack.
"Watch it!" Crimson yelled as he shoved Lilith to the ground, the whip narrowly missing her. "You almost hit her! Didn't you hear what she said?"
"At least I'm doing something!" Gale snapped back, swinging the whip again with wild abandon. His grin widened as the bodies fell around him, but his recklessness was palpable.
"Gale! Behind you!" Crimson called out, his voice urgent.
But Gale was too slow. A shadowy figure moved with blinding speed, its hand darting out to grab him. Before he could react, a heavy blow landed on the back of his head, and Gale crumpled to the ground. His whip disintegrated, the blood flowing back to his wrist as if retreating in defeat.
"Gale!" Lilith screamed, but it was too late. The figure dragged him into the shadows, disappearing with an uncanny swiftness.
Crimson stood, his jaw tight, his grip on the crossbow firm. Around them, the other bodies lay motionless, discarded like broken puppets.
"Lilith, stay here," Crimson commanded, his voice low but determined.
"Wait, you can't—"
"I'll be back," Crimson said sharply, cutting her off before she could protest. Without another word, he bolted into the darkness, his footsteps pounding against the forest floor.
The trees loomed closer together as he pressed on, shadows twisting and stretching in the dim light. Crimson's focus was razor-sharp, his ears straining to follow the faint sounds of Gale's struggle. Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the eerie silence.
His blood ran cold—it wasn't Gale's voice. It was Lilith's.
"No. Lilith," he breathed, panic tightening his chest. Without hesitation, he pivoted and sprinted back toward where he'd left her. The trees blurred past as his heart raced, dread clawing at the edges of his mind.
When he burst into the clearing, the sight stopped him dead in his tracks. The bodies that had littered the ground moments ago were gone. Worse still, there was no sign of Lilith.
"Lilith!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty woods. Silence answered him, heavy and oppressive. His fists clenched at his sides, frustration and fear surging within him.