Chapter 16) Uninvited Guests
Cael's hand clamped over Vey's mouth.
"Wake up," he hissed.
Vey's eyes fluttered open. "What…"
"Shh." Cael's gaze was locked on the warehouse door.
The crunch of gravel outside grew louder, then stopped. For half a heartbeat, there was silence… until the hinges groaned. The door slid open, just enough for moonlight to slice in.
Vey's voice was barely a breath. "How many?"
"Too many," Cael whispered back. "Six. Shapes."
"Six?!" Vey's panic rose, but Cael's hand shot up. "Quiet."
They ducked behind a stack of broken crates, the wood smelling of old oil and dust. Through the gaps, they saw them step in, six figures, shadows more than people. No clear faces, no clear genders, just dark coats, hoods, and the faint glint of something metallic strapped to their belts.
One of them spoke, low and fast. The others murmured in reply. The words didn't carry, just the rhythm, like they were discussing something dangerous… or deciding something.
Vey leaned close, whispering so quietly it was almost air. "What if they're Crimson Fang?"
Cael shook his head. "Not like this. Crimson Fang walks in like they own the place. These guys… they're checking corners."
The six split into pairs, boots scuffing the concrete. One pair came dangerously close to their hiding spot.
Cael's pulse hammered. He couldn't tell what these people could do, magic? Steel? Guns? Maybe all three. That's what made it worse. You can't plan for unknowns.
Vey's breath was shallow, quick. "We can make a break for the back door…"
Cael's eyes cut to him, sharp. "No. We don't know if it's clear. If they can sense us…"
The two figures nearest paused. One tilted their head, like they'd just heard something.
Vey froze. Cael's stomach knotted.
Then, soft footsteps, coming straight toward their crates.
---
The footsteps stopped just on the other side of the crates.
Vey's muscles locked, his hand instinctively hovering near the dagger at his belt. Cael didn't move an inch.
The figure lingered, head tilted. A faint breath escaped them, like they were tasting the air.
"...I heard something," the stranger muttered.
Cael's heart pounded so hard he swore it would give them away.
From across the room, another voice called, low but sharp. "Oi, leave it. Over here."
The figure hesitated… then gave a small grunt and turned away. Boots tapped across the concrete, fading toward the far wall.
Vey exhaled silently, his shoulders sagging a fraction. Cael's grip on his arm didn't loosen.
"They didn't find us," Vey mouthed.
Cael shook his head. "Yet."
Across the room, the six regrouped, speaking in hurried tones. Still too low to make out words, just the cadence of urgency. One pointed toward the back exit, another gestured in short, sharp motions, like issuing orders.
"What are they after?" Vey whispered.
"Don't know." Cael's eyes tracked every shift of their bodies. "And that's what scares me."
The group moved again, spreading wider now, systematic. They weren't just wandering. They were searching.
Cael's hand tightened on Vey's sleeve. "We're moving."
"To where?"
"Upstairs. Quieter. Shadows are thicker."
They slid between the stacks of old machinery and rusted shelving, every step deliberate, every breath measured. The air was damp, tasting faintly of metal and rot.
Below, the strangers' footsteps scraped and echoed. One laughed, a low, unsettling sound that didn't match the words they couldn't hear.
Vey glanced over his shoulder, whispering, "Feels like they're hunting something."
"Yeah," Cael said grimly. "Just pray it's not us."
As they reached the rusted staircase to the upper level, a sudden clang rang out from the far side of the building, like metal crashing to the floor. The strangers' voices spiked.
Every head turned toward the sound.
Cael and Vey froze mid-step, hearts thundering.
---
The metal stairs groaned under Cael and Vey's weight, each step a gamble. They climbed slow, holding their breath, the echoes from below swallowing the sound of the strangers' movements.
Down on the ground floor, the group had moved toward the crash, their boots scattering across the concrete. The brief spike of noise gave Cael and Vey the window they needed to reach the second floor.
Up here, the air felt heavier, the shadows thicker. Rusted beams stretched overhead, and the narrow catwalk rattled beneath their feet. They ducked behind a stack of rotting crates, crouching low.
Vey leaned in close, whispering just above the sound of his own heartbeat. "We can sneak out now, right?"
Cael's eyes swept the space below. "No… every exit's in their line of sight. They've got the building boxed in."
"You're sure?"
"I counted. Six of them. One at each door. Two drifting."
Vey's stomach twisted. "So we're stuck."
"Yeah," Cael said. "Until they leave. Which could be hours."
The silence between them stretched, broken only by the muffled voices below. But then… the sound shifted.
Footsteps. Heavy. Climbing.
Vey's breath caught. "They're coming up here."
"Stay low," Cael hissed.
Boots thudded on the stairs. Voices grew clearer, the words still indistinct but urgent. The rhythm of their steps told Cael exactly how close they were.
"Two of them," Cael mouthed.
The strangers reached the landing. Shadows flickered in the dim light as they stepped onto the upper floor. One paused, scanning the length of the catwalk. The other muttered something, low, deliberate, and they began moving toward the crates.
Cael and Vey pressed themselves against the splintering wood, barely daring to breathe. The air smelled of dust and oil, every sound magnified in their ears.
The footsteps drew closer.
Closer.
The wood creaked under the strangers' weight, just on the other side now.
Cael's mind raced. If they look around this stack…
Vey's hand tightened on his dagger, but his knuckles were slick with sweat.
The voices were right there, one of them chuckling under their breath.
Then…
A shout from below. Someone calling for them.
The strangers hesitated, glancing at each other. One swore under their breath.
Boots turned. Footsteps retreated toward the stairs.
Cael and Vey stayed frozen, still counting the fading thuds. Only when the sound vanished did Cael risk a whisper:
"They're not done here."
Vey swallowed hard. "I know."
And they waited.