The forest was silent, the kind of silence that made every sound feel like an explosion. Caleb strained his ears, listening for anything out of place, but all he could hear was the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.


    “Are they waiting for us?” Caleb whispered.


    Evelyn’s eyes scanned the shadows. “No. They’re testing us.”


    “Testing us for what?”


    “To see if we’re worth the effort,” Evelyn said.


    Before Caleb could respond, a shadow moved in his peripheral vision—fast and fluid. He spun, raising his gun just as a figure lunged out of the darkness.


    The Keeper’s blade caught the faint light of Caleb’s flashlight, and he fired instinctively. The shot rang out, echoing through the trees. The figure staggered, their weapon falling from their hand, but they didn’t go down.


    “Evelyn!” Caleb shouted.


    She was already moving. Evelyn stepped between Caleb and the Keeper, her knife flashing in the dim light. She ducked low, driving the blade into the figure’s side. The Keeper let out a muffled cry before collapsing to the ground.


    “Nice timing,” Caleb muttered, his gun still raised.


    “Stay focused,” Evelyn said, her tone sharp.


    The next attack came moments later. Two more figures emerged from the shadows, their movements coordinated and deliberate. Caleb fired again, the shot grazing one of them. The other darted to the side, disappearing into the trees.


    “They’re trying to flank us!” Caleb shouted.


    Evelyn didn’t respond. She lunged at the closer Keeper, her movements quick and precise. Their blades clashed in a sharp, metallic strike that echoed through the forest. Evelyn sidestepped their next attack, slashing across their arm in one fluid motion.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    The Keeper stumbled, and Evelyn didn’t hesitate. She drove her knife upward, the blade finding its mark. The figure crumpled to the ground, but Evelyn’s attention was already on the next threat.


    Caleb turned to face the second attacker, but they were already closing in. He barely managed to block their strike with the barrel of his gun, the impact jarring his arms. The Keeper pressed forward, their blade inches from his throat.


    “Evelyn!” Caleb shouted, his voice strained.


    Evelyn grabbed the Keeper by the back of their hood, yanking them off balance. The moment they stumbled, Caleb drove his elbow into their chest, sending them sprawling.


    “Thanks,” Caleb said, catching his breath.


    “Don’t thank me yet,” Evelyn replied, her gaze snapping to the shadows. “There are more.”


    The next wave came harder. Four figures stepped into the clearing, their hooded forms moving in eerie unison. Caleb and Evelyn stood back-to-back, their flashlights casting wild, flickering beams across the trees.


    “You got a plan?” Caleb asked, reloading his gun.


    “Don’t get killed,” Evelyn said.


    “Fantastic plan,” Caleb muttered.


    The first Keeper lunged at Evelyn, their blade slicing through the air. She sidestepped the attack, slashing across their chest in a single, brutal motion. They collapsed, but another was already closing in.


    Caleb fired at one of the remaining attackers, the shot hitting their shoulder. The figure staggered but didn’t fall. Caleb swore under his breath, firing again. This time, the Keeper went down, their blade slipping from their hand.


    Evelyn was locked in a fierce struggle with the last two attackers. Their blades clashed, the metallic sound ringing out like a bell. Caleb turned to help her, but a sudden movement in the corner of his eye made him spin back around.


    A fifth Keeper emerged from the shadows, their blade raised high. Caleb fired, the shot hitting them square in the chest. The figure crumpled to the ground, and Caleb turned back to Evelyn.


    She was breathing heavily, her knife dripping with blood. The last two attackers lay motionless at her feet.


    “Are you okay?” Caleb asked, lowering his gun.


    Evelyn nodded, though her breathing was ragged. “Let’s keep moving.”


    “You’re welcome, by the way,” Caleb said, gesturing to the Keeper he’d just taken down.


    Evelyn glanced at the body, then at Caleb. “You want a medal?”


    “Just a little gratitude would be nice,” Caleb muttered.


    Evelyn didn’t respond. She wiped her knife on her sleeve and started walking again, leaving Caleb to follow