Chapter 3 Selene's Echo

Author's POV

"She's still alive!" Alistair shouted, pacing back and forth. His mind was racing, his voice shaking with both anger and hope.

Raiden, sitting on a fallen log, stared at him. "You don't know that, Alistair."

"I do!" Alistair snapped. "Isaac wouldn't have mentioned her if she wasn't. He slipped up."

Raiden sighed, rubbing his face. "Or maybe he's playing with your head. He knows how to get under your skin."

Alistair stopped pacing, his eyes burning. "I'll find her. I'm not giving up."

Raiden frowned. "And what if it's a trap? Isaac could've said that just to lure you into something worse."

Alistair clenched his fists. "I don't care. I have to take that chance."

Raiden stood up, stepping toward him. "We barely made it out of there, Alistair. You're risking everything."

Alistair shook his head. "I can't stop now. Not when I know she's out there."

Raiden hesitated. "Do you really think she's with Grayson?"

Alistair's jaw tightened. "If she is, I'll get her back."

Raiden raised an eyebrow. "And how do you plan to do that? Walk right into Grayson's den?"

"If I have to," Alistair said, his voice steady.

Raiden sighed again, shaking his head. "You're gonna get yourself killed."

"I'd rather die trying to save her than live doing nothing," Alistair muttered.

Raiden watched him for a long moment, then finally spoke. "Alright. What's the plan?"

Alistair looked at him, surprised. "You're coming with me?"

Raiden shrugged. "Someone has to keep you from doing something stupid."

Alistair smirked, but his eyes were still filled with determination. "Thanks."

Raiden grumbled. "Don't thank me yet. We're probably both going to die."

Alistair turned toward the path leading deeper into the woods. "Let's go."

Raiden followed, muttering under his breath, "Great. This is going to end well."

As they walked through the trees, the silence between them grew thick. Alistair's mind raced with thoughts of Selene. Memories of her laugh, her smile, flooded his mind. He couldn't lose her. Not again.

Raiden broke the silence. "Why would she be with Grayson?"

Alistair's voice was cold. "Because Grayson's a monster. He took everything from me."

"But why Selene?" Raiden pressed. "She's not like him."

Alistair's fists clenched. "He wanted to hurt me. And there's no better way than taking her."

Raiden hesitated. "What if she doesn't want to be saved?"

Alistair froze, turning to glare at him. "What did you say?"

Raiden raised his hands defensively. "I'm just saying, Alistair. It's been a long time. People change."

Alistair's eyes darkened. "Selene didn't choose him."

Raiden looked away. "I hope you're right."

They continued walking, the forest growing darker around them. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, made Raiden flinch. Alistair stayed focused, his eyes forward, his mind set on one thing, finding Selene.

Raiden finally broke the silence again. "So... what's the plan when we find Grayson?"

Alistair's voice was steady. "We take him down."

Raiden chuckled darkly. "You make it sound easy."

"It won't be," Alistair admitted. "But I don't care how hard it is. He's not getting away with this."

Raiden sighed. "And if Selene's with him?"

Alistair's jaw clenched. "Then I'll take her back."

Raiden frowned. "You're acting like it's that simple. What if she doesn't want to come with you?"

Alistair stopped, turning to face him. "Selene belongs with me."

Raiden met his gaze, his voice quiet. "And what if she doesn't think that anymore?"

Alistair's eyes hardened. "She will. She has to."

Raiden didn't argue, but the doubt was clear on his face. "Let's just hope Grayson doesn't tear us apart before we get to her."

"We'll make it," Alistair said firmly. "We have to."

Suddenly, the air grew colder. Raiden shivered, looking around. "Do you feel that?"

Alistair nodded, his eyes scanning the trees. "Something's coming."

Raiden's voice shook. "What is it?"

Alistair's eyes narrowed. "I don't know. Stay close."

A shadow moved between the trees, and both men tensed.

Raiden whispered, "Is it them?"

Alistair's heart pounded in his chest. "No. It's something else."

The shadow moved again, this time closer. Raiden stepped back. "I don't like this, Alistair."

"Neither do I," Alistair muttered, his voice low. "Get ready."

Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the trees. It was cloaked, the hood pulled low over its face. The figure stood still, watching them.

Raiden's voice trembled. "Who is that?"

Alistair growled, "I don't know."

The figure raised a hand, pointing directly at Alistair.

"What do you want?" Alistair demanded, his voice strong despite the tension in the air.

The figure didn't speak, but its finger slowly lowered to the ground.

Raiden glanced nervously at Alistair. "This is bad."

"Stay calm," Alistair said through gritted teeth.

The figure finally spoke, its voice low and haunting. "She's waiting."

Alistair's heart skipped a beat. "Who's waiting?"

The figure took a step closer, the air around them growing colder. "Selene."

Alistair's blood ran cold. "Where is she?"

The figure didn't answer, only tilted its head slightly, as if listening to something distant.

Raiden whispered, "What's happening?"

Alistair growled, stepping forward. "Where is she?"

The figure raised its hand again, pointing deeper into the forest. "She calls for you."

Alistair's heart raced. "I don't believe you."

The figure chuckled softly. "Believe what you wish. But she waits. In the dark."

Raiden grabbed Alistair's arm. "This feels like a trap, Alistair. We can't trust him."

Alistair shook him off, his eyes still on the figure. "Show me where."

The figure slowly turned, its cloak trailing along the ground as it began to walk away.

Raiden's voice was tight with fear. "Don't follow him."

Alistair's voice was low, filled with determination. "I don't have a choice."

Raiden shook his head, panic in his eyes. "This is insane!"

Alistair started following the figure, his steps steady. "I'm going to find her."

Raiden hesitated, then hurried after him. "You're going to get us both killed."

The figure led them deeper into the forest, where the trees grew thicker, their branches tangled overhead. The air was heavy, almost suffocating. Raiden's breathing grew ragged as he struggled to keep up.

"This is a trap," Raiden muttered. "I can feel it."

Alistair didn't respond. His mind was focused on one thing, Selene. If there was even a chance she was alive, he would find her.

The figure suddenly stopped in a small clearing. It turned to face them, its hood still hiding its face.

Alistair stepped forward. "Where is she?"

The figure didn't answer. Instead, it slowly raised its hand again, pointing to the ground at Alistair's feet.

Raiden frowned. "What is he doing?"

Alistair's eyes narrowed. "I don't know."

Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled. Raiden stumbled back, eyes wide with fear. "Alistair!"

Before Alistair could react, the earth split open, and a gust of icy wind erupted from the ground, knocking them both back.

The figure stood still, its hand still raised. "She waits in the shadows."

Alistair scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding. "What is this?"

The figure took a step closer, its voice barely a whisper. "Find her... before it's too late."

With those words, the figure vanished into the darkness, leaving Alistair and Raiden alone in the clearing.

Raiden coughed, struggling to stand. "What... what was that?"

Alistair's fists clenched. "I don't know. But I'm going to find out."

Raiden looked at him, fear in his eyes. "This is getting worse by the minute."

Alistair's eyes burned with determination. "I don't care. I'm going to find her. No matter what."

Just then, a howl echoed through the trees, louder and closer than before.

Raiden's face went pale. "That's Grayson's pack."

Alistair's heart pounded as the howls grew closer. "They've found us."