The forest was quiet again, but it didn’t feel safe. Caleb kept his gun raised, his eyes darting between the trees as he followed Evelyn down the narrow trail. The faint glow of his flashlight barely cut through the darkness, and every shadow felt like a threat waiting to strike.


    “How far are the ruins?” Caleb asked, his voice low.


    “Close,” Evelyn replied without looking back.


    Caleb huffed, adjusting the strap of his pack. “You’ve said that before.”


    “This time, it’s true,” Evelyn said.


    “You’re so reassuring,” Caleb muttered.


    Evelyn glanced over her shoulder briefly, her face illuminated by the soft glow of her flashlight. “We just took out their scouting party. They won’t send anyone else until they regroup. That gives us time.”


    “Time for what?” Caleb asked.


    “To get what we came for,” Evelyn replied simply.


    Caleb didn’t respond. He focused on the trail ahead, his footsteps crunching softly against the dirt.


    They walked in silence for a while, the tension between them thick but unspoken. Caleb’s body ached from the fight, his arms burning from the effort of blocking and firing. He glanced at Evelyn, noticing the faint tremor in her hand as she adjusted her knife.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    “You’re hurt,” Caleb said.


    “I’m fine,” Evelyn replied.


    “Doesn’t look like it,” Caleb said, nodding toward her hand.


    Evelyn didn’t answer immediately. She slid her knife back into its sheath and adjusted the strap of her pack. “It’s nothing.”


    Caleb frowned but didn’t push her. He knew better than to argue with someone as stubborn as Evelyn.


    “Right,” Caleb said finally. “You’re indestructible. Got it.”


    Evelyn shot him a look, but there was no real bite behind it.


    The trail twisted sharply, and Caleb stumbled over a root, catching himself against a tree. He cursed under his breath, shaking his head.


    “You good back there?” Evelyn asked, glancing back at him.


    “Peachy,” Caleb muttered. “Just trying not to break my neck.”


    Evelyn smirked faintly, though it was gone almost as quickly as it appeared. “Maybe try looking where you’re going.”


    “Thanks for the tip,” Caleb said dryly.


    Despite himself, he felt a flicker of relief at her remark. It was easier to deal with her sharp tongue than the silence.


    They stopped at a small clearing a few minutes later, the dense forest opening up just enough to let the faintest glow of moonlight through. Evelyn knelt down, pulling a small water bottle from her pack and taking a quick sip.


    Caleb leaned against a tree, his breath steadying. “So,” he said after a moment. “What happens if the ruins are empty?”


    “They won’t be,” Evelyn said.


    “And if they are?” Caleb pressed.


    Evelyn glanced at him, her expression hard. “Then we keep looking.”


    “Great,” Caleb muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Because I was really hoping this would turn into a scavenger hunt.”


    Evelyn didn’t respond. She stood, sliding her water bottle back into her pack. “Let’s keep moving.”