The forest was thick, shadows stretching long in the moonlight. Lucien moved silently, confident, every step calculated. I followed closely, heart hammering not just from fear, but from adrenaline, from the unknown.
"This way," he whispered, voice low, guiding me toward a hidden cabin camouflaged by trees.
I swallowed. Questions swirled. Who was he really? Why help me? Why risk himself?
Inside the cabin, it was modest but secure. No cameras, no alarms just raw survival.
Lucien closed the door, bolted it, and finally exhaled.
"You can breathe now," he said.
I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my own rhythm. "Why are you helping me?"
He tilted his head. "Because tonight… your survival serves my purpose too. And because Adrian isn't the only one with enemies."
The words sent chills down my spine. Adrian… enemies? He had risked himself to save me… but apparently, there were bigger forces at play.
I wrapped my arms around myself. "You're lying."
He shook his head. "No. But I don't expect you to believe me yet."
I let silence stretch between us. The room felt smaller with every unspoken thought.
Finally, I asked the question that had been burning in me since the tunnel.
"What about my father?"
Lucien's expression hardened. "He made choices that brought this on. Choices that cost him his life… and put you in danger."
I felt a tear sting my eye. Rage. Grief. Confusion. "He… he loved me."
Lucien's gaze softened slightly. "Love isn't always enough. Sometimes power, debt, and betrayal weigh heavier."
I swallowed hard. My throat tightened. The first time tonight, I allowed fear and grief to mix.
A noise outside made us both freeze. Footsteps. Distant, but coming closer.
Lucien's hand went to his weapon instinctively. "They found the trail."
I froze. "Trail?"
"Every move you make leaves traces," he said quietly. "You can't hide forever. But we can plan. Strategize. Fight."
My hands trembled. "And Adrian?"
"He's alive. But he's fighting his own battles right now. Your path is different."
I looked around the cabin. Bare walls. Minimal supplies. Security measures. But for the first time tonight… I felt something strange. Safety.
Temporary. Fragile. But real.
I met Lucien's eyes. Calm. Dangerous. Calculating.
And I realized I had no choice but to trust him… at least for now.