The eastern train groaned as it pulled out of the station, its metal wheels echoing through the night.
Inside, the dimly lit car smelled of steel, rain, and the faint trace of oil. Passengers huddled under blankets, most asleep, unaware of the fugitives who had just boarded among them.
Kael guided Liora into an empty compartment near the back. "Stay close," he murmured. "We'll blend in until the next border stop."
Liora nodded silently, clutching the case that had already cost too many lives. Her body ached from exhaustion, but her mind refused to rest. Every shadow looked like a threat. Every whisper felt like a warning.
Kael closed the compartment door, then sat across from her. His gray eyes scanned the corridor beyond the window — precise, vigilant. The world outside blurred into darkness as the train gained speed.
For a long time, neither spoke. The only sound was the rhythmic clatter of the rails.
Finally, Kael broke the silence.
"You haven't slept in two days," he said quietly. "You'll collapse if you keep this up."
Liora gave a weak smile. "And miss all the fun?"
He almost smiled back — almost. "Fun isn't exactly what I'd call running for our lives."
Her gaze softened. "You've done this before, haven't you? The hiding, the running, the losing."
Kael looked away, jaw tightening. "Too many times."
The compartment fell quiet again. Then, slowly, he removed his jacket and handed it to her.
"Here. You're freezing."
Liora hesitated, then took it. The fabric was warm, carrying his scent — faint gunpowder, smoke, and something uniquely his. She wrapped it around herself, whispering a quiet "Thank you."
Kael leaned back against the seat, watching her with a gaze that had lost some of its steel.
For a brief moment, the soldier, the fugitive, the man — all became one.
"Rest," he said softly. "You've been running long enough, My Lady."
The words hit her like a breath of warmth in the cold night.
No one had called her that before — not with such quiet reverence. It wasn't mockery. It wasn't pity. It was… respect.
She looked at him, surprised. "Why did you call me that?"
Kael's lips curved faintly. "Because you still carry yourself like one — even after the world tried to break you."
Liora turned her gaze to the window, hiding the emotion that welled up. For the first time, the endless running felt… bearable.
But peace, as always, didn't last.
Minutes later, Kael's instincts stirred. He sat upright, eyes narrowing.
Someone was watching them.
He caught a reflection in the glass — a man sitting two compartments down, pretending to read a newspaper, though his eyes flickered toward their door too often.
Kael's voice dropped to a whisper. "Don't move. We're not alone."
Liora stiffened. "You think they found us?"
He reached into his boot and slid out a concealed blade. "I think someone's testing whether we're still breathing."
The train hit a curve, throwing them slightly off balance. Kael used the motion to slip out silently into the corridor. Liora's pulse hammered as she clutched the case tighter, listening to the rhythmic footsteps outside.
Moments passed — then a faint thud.
The door slid open.
Kael returned, holding a small earpiece in his palm. "He's not one of them," he said grimly. "He's working for them."
Liora frowned. "What do you mean?"
He showed her the device. "A listening probe. They were tracking our conversation. That man was transmitting everything to a remote receiver."
Her stomach dropped. "So they know we're on this train?"
Kael nodded. "And they won't wait until the next stop to act."
The train lights flickered — once, twice — then went out completely.
Liora gasped. "Kael—"
He pulled her against him, shielding her as the compartment plunged into darkness. The faint sound of footsteps approached again, this time heavier… deliberate.
Kael's whisper was calm but sharp. "Stay behind me."
The door burst open. Two figures in dark coats stormed in, weapons raised. Kael moved first — fast, brutal, precise. He struck the first man's wrist, sending the gun clattering, then slammed him against the wall. The second fired, but the shot went wide.
Liora ducked under the seat, clutching the case as bullets shattered the glass.
Kael fought like a storm — silent, relentless. In seconds, both attackers were down. One groaned; the other didn't move.
He turned to Liora. "We have to get to the cargo section — now."
They rushed through the dark corridor, the train rattling violently as it entered a tunnel. Emergency lights flashed red. Shadows leapt across the walls like ghosts.
Liora's breath came in sharp bursts. "How many of them are there?"
"Too many," Kael said through gritted teeth. "And whoever's leading them knows our moves."
They reached the cargo car and locked the door behind them. Crates surrounded them, stacked high, marked with faded symbols. Liora sank to the floor, trembling.
Kael crouched beside her. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head. "No… just scared."
His expression softened. "Good. Fear means you're still alive."
The train roared into another tunnel, plunging them into near darkness again. Kael adjusted his weapon, scanning the corners.
Then — a faint click.
He froze. "Wait."
A small red light blinked under one of the crates.
A bomb.
Kael's curse was a whisper. "They rigged the cargo."
Liora's eyes widened in terror. "We have to jump!"
"Not yet," he snapped. "If we move too soon, they'll spot us. Let me disarm it."
She watched him kneel beside the device, his hands steady even as the train shook. Sweat glistened on his forehead.
"Cut the blue wire," she whispered. "It's always the blue one, right?"
He gave her a tight smile. "That's what movies want you to think."
Seconds stretched like hours — then click.
The blinking light went out.
Kael exhaled, long and slow. "We're clear."
Liora's relief was immediate — until she noticed something on the crate next to them: a faint mark carved into the wood. A serpent coiled around a winged key.
Her blood ran cold. "Kael… this cargo belongs to Seraph."
He turned sharply. "What?"
"This isn't random. This train — it's theirs."
Realization hit them both like a blow. The trap hadn't started here. They had walked right into it.
Before either could move, the train's intercom crackled to life.
A distorted voice echoed through the car:
> "Hello, Kael Draven. Still running? You should know by now — you can't outrun ghosts."
Liora's hand found his, trembling. Kael's jaw clenched.
"Darian," he whispered.
Her heart stopped. "Your old partner?"
He nodded. "And the man who won't stop until one of us is dead."
Outside, the tunnel opened into the pale light of dawn. But inside that train, shadows had already claimed the night.