I thought silence was safe – a place to catch my breaths. But silences can lie. Slience let danger creeps in unnoticed.
Kael and i ran – not like we had plan, just one goal; don't just die.
The alley behind the chapel bled into tighter streets,ruins curling in on themselves, the city's bones showing. My lungs burned, every steps a war to gravity, Kael didn't slow down. She moved like she was part shadows.
"You are slowing down", she said over her shoulder.
"I'm –" galps – build for this!" I shot back, chest heaving.
"Then learn fast".
We skidded into another narrow path between broken buildings, both of us pressing flat against the walls as voices echoed behind us.
Hunters. Still coming.
Kael crouched beside me, blade drawn, eyes flicking upward toward as fire escape. "We're going up"
"You're serious."
"Always."
With a short run, she jumped, caught thr ladder and swung herself up like it was second nature. I hesitated, my hands shaky, heart pounding too loud in my ears.
"Calm Rae!"
That was the first time she called my name.
It hit harder than i expect.
I jumped. Slipped. Tried again. My hands finally found the cold metal, i pulled myself up, following her to the rooftop. The city sprawling beneath us – quite, twisted, watching.
We ducked low, Kael led us across the roof then stopped, scanned the darkness.
"I know somewhere", she said. "Safe for now."
We climbed down the other side of the building and made our way into a broken apartment complex. The hallway was wrecked — door splintered, windows gone and Kael walked like she knew it.
She stopped at one door, kicked it open and motioned for me to enter.
Inside was dim and dusty, but safe.
"Is this your home?" I asked.
She shook her head. "It was. Before the Queen started marking us for death.
I sat on what's supposed to be couch, rubbing my arms. My Mark start buzzing under my skin, like it hasn't calmed since that blast of energy earlier.
Kael stood by thr window, keeping watch. Her present was sharp but not cold.
"I saw what u did there," she finally said. "You are sronger than you know".
"I didn't mean to do it", i admitted. "It...just happened."
She turned towards me. Her eyes was unreadable, but something about her posture softened.
"You think i knew how to fight, when the Mark showed up?."
I looked at her suprised.
"I was just like you",Kael said. "Scared. Alone. But then i realized — Fear doesn't protect you, Power does.
That hit me hard.
I looked down at my wrist. Thr mark was glowing faintly again.
"It feel like it's changing me". I whispered.
"It is"
The silence stretched, but not uncomfortably. She sat at the edge of a broken table, still watching me.
"You know", i said. "You're hard to read."
"Good." She said raising an eyebrow.
I smacked depart myself. "That was a compliment."
Her eyes lingered on mine a little longer than i expected.
Something in the air shifted.
She looked away first. "Get some rest. We move before dawn."
I laid back. But sleep didn't come easy. My body was still buzzing. And not from fear.
I was starting to realize..... i wasn't just running from danger.
I was running towards something.
And somehow Kael was the center of it.
To Be CONTINUED.....