Chapter 2 Shadows in the Dark

Author's POV

"Did we lose them?" Raiden's voice was shaky, his breath coming in quick gasps.

"I don't know," Alistair muttered, his eyes darting around. "Keep moving."

Raiden stumbled over a branch, panting. "I can't. They're everywhere. I can hear them."

Alistair grabbed his arm. "Quiet! You'll get us killed."

Raiden leaned against a tree, trying to catch his breath. "We should have never come. I told you this was a bad idea."

Alistair's jaw clenched. "I didn't ask you to follow me, Raiden."

"You didn't give me a choice!" Raiden snapped, eyes wide with fear. "Now we're being hunted."

Alistair stayed silent for a moment, listening to the faint howls in the distance. "We're not hunted yet. But if you don't shut up, we will be."

Raiden swallowed hard. "Do you really think we can get out of here?"

"We will. Just stay close." Alistair scanned the forest, every shadow feeling like it was moving. His instincts screamed at him to stay alert. "They're out there, but they're not here yet."

Raiden shook his head. "What if Isaac comes back? He hates you, Alistair. He's not going to let us walk away."

"I know," Alistair said quietly. "He wants me dead."

Raiden's voice shook. "Then why didn't he kill you? He had the chance."

Alistair looked at Raiden, his eyes hard. "Because he wants me to suffer first."

Raiden's hands trembled. "We need to get out of here. Now."

"We will," Alistair replied, his voice firm. "But I need answers first."

Raiden frowned. "Answers? What answers?"

Alistair's gaze turned cold. "Isaac knows where Selene is. He slipped up back there."

Raiden blinked. "You think she's alive?"

"I don't think," Alistair growled. "I know. And I'm going to find her."

Raiden stared at him. "And what if Isaac lied? What if she's..."

"She's not dead," Alistair snapped. "Isaac's hiding something. I could see it."

Raiden sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead. "You're risking our lives for someone who might not even be alive."

Alistair shot him a sharp look. "She's alive. I can feel it."

Raiden said nothing for a moment, then shook his head. "You're crazy."

"Maybe," Alistair muttered. "But I'm not leaving without her."

The wind rustled through the trees, making Raiden jump. "What if Grayson catches us first?"

Alistair's eyes hardened. "Then we kill him."

Raiden's mouth opened in shock. "Kill Grayson? Are you out of your mind?"

Alistair's voice was steady. "He took everything from me. He's not walking away from this."

Raiden's voice lowered to a whisper. "He's stronger than you, Alistair. You know that."

Alistair's lips curled in a grim smile. "We'll see."

A twig snapped nearby, and both men froze.

"What was that?" Raiden whispered, eyes wide.

Alistair motioned for silence, holding up a hand. His heart raced as he listened, every muscle tensing. The forest was too quiet now. Too still.

Raiden took a step closer to him. "They're close, aren't they?"

Alistair nodded slowly. "Very close."

Another snap, this time louder. Alistair's eyes narrowed. "Get ready."

Raiden swallowed hard, pulling out his blade. "You think it's Isaac?"

"Could be," Alistair muttered. "Or someone worse."

A low growl echoed from the darkness. Raiden's breath hitched. "We're dead."

"Shut up," Alistair growled. "We're not dead yet."

The growl grew louder, closer. Raiden gripped his knife tighter, his hands shaking. "I don't want to die here, Alistair."

"You won't," Alistair said, his voice low. "Not if you listen to me."

Raiden glanced at him, panic in his eyes. "What do we do?"

Alistair's voice was calm. "Stay close. Don't run. If we split up, they'll pick us off."

Raiden nodded, his face pale. "Okay."

The growl came again, closer than before. Alistair's eyes flicked toward the sound. "They're circling us."

Raiden's breathing quickened. "What do they want?"

Alistair's voice was a whisper. "To kill us."

Raiden cursed under his breath. "Great."

Alistair's eyes were sharp, his body tense. "We'll fight them off. Don't panic."

"I'm already panicking," Raiden hissed. "How are we supposed to fight them? There's too many!"

Alistair didn't respond. He crouched low, ready for the attack he knew was coming.

Suddenly, from the shadows, a wolf lunged at them, its teeth bared.

"Now!" Alistair shouted, shoving Raiden aside and spinning to meet the attack. He barely dodged the wolf's fangs, landing a punch to its side. The wolf growled in pain but didn't back down.

Raiden screamed, scrambling to his feet. "Alistair!"

"Focus!" Alistair barked, throwing the wolf off him and spinning around to face the others.

Three more wolves appeared from the trees, their eyes glowing in the darkness. They circled, growling, watching.

Raiden stood frozen, his knife shaking in his hand. "We're not going to make it."

Alistair growled, shifting slightly to shield Raiden. "Stay behind me."

Raiden's voice shook. "There's too many."

"I've faced worse," Alistair said, his eyes locked on the wolves.

The lead wolf growled, its muscles tensing. It was ready to strike. Alistair braced himself.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the trees. "That's enough!"

The wolves froze, their growls dying down. Alistair's eyes narrowed as a figure stepped out from the shadows.

"Isaac," Alistair spat, fury rising in his chest.

Isaac grinned. "Did you really think I'd let them kill you? Not yet, anyway."

Alistair's fists clenched. "You're playing a dangerous game, Isaac."

Isaac chuckled. "Oh, I'm not playing. I'm winning."

Raiden shifted nervously behind Alistair. "What does he want?"

Alistair ignored him, his eyes locked on Isaac. "What's this about? Where's Grayson?"

Isaac smirked. "Grayson's busy. He sent me to deal with you."

"Deal with me?" Alistair growled. "You couldn't deal with me if you tried."

Isaac's smile widened. "Oh, I'm not here to fight, Alistair. Not yet. I just came to deliver a message."

Alistair's eyes narrowed. "I'm not interested in anything you have to say."

Isaac chuckled softly. "You will be. Trust me."

Alistair took a step forward, his voice low and threatening. "Where is she?"

Isaac's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes. "Selene? Oh, she's... safe."

Alistair's heart skipped a beat. "You're lying."

"Am I?" Isaac's voice was smooth, but his grin was cruel. "Why would I lie?"

"Because you're afraid of me," Alistair growled. "You always were."

Isaac's eyes darkened. "Afraid of you? Don't flatter yourself, Alistair."

Alistair took another step closer. "Where is she?"

Isaac sighed dramatically. "Always so impatient. She's fine. That's all you need to know."

Alistair's fists tightened. "You're not leaving until you tell me where she is."

Isaac raised an eyebrow. "And what are you going to do? Kill me?"

"If I have to," Alistair muttered.

Isaac chuckled again. "You wouldn't kill me. You need me."

Alistair's eyes narrowed. "I need nothing from you."

"Oh, but you do." Isaac's voice was soft, almost mocking. "You need me to find her."

Raiden whispered, "Alistair, we should leave."

Alistair ignored him, stepping even closer to Isaac. "Tell me where she is."

Isaac's smile faded slightly. "She doesn't want to see you."

Alistair's heart pounded. "You don't know that."

Isaac's grin returned. "Oh, but I do. Grayson made sure of it."

"Grayson?" Alistair growled, his anger rising. "What did he do?"

Isaac took a step back, his grin widening. "You'll find out soon enough."

Alistair lunged forward, but Isaac stepped back into the shadows, disappearing with a mocking laugh. The wolves followed, their glowing eyes fading into the darkness.

Raiden exhaled sharply, his body shaking. "That was too close."

Alistair stood still, his fists trembling with rage