Bargain Infernal

Episode 10: Shadows of Deception

The group moved through the forest in tense silence, Alex supported by Gideon and Mara as he struggled to stay on his feet. The battle with Darius had taken more out of him than he wanted to admit, and every step was a reminder of how close he’d come to losing everything.

“We’re almost there,” Gideon said, his voice steady but strained. “There’s a safe house nearby. We can rest and regroup.”

Alex nodded weakly, his vision blurring. Mara’s arm tightened around him, her warmth a small comfort against the encroaching cold. He glanced at her, catching the worry etched across her face.

“I’m okay,” he murmured, though his voice lacked conviction.

“No, you’re not,” Mara replied, her tone firm. “But you will be. I promise.”

Lila, walking a few steps ahead, glanced back at them. Her expression was unreadable, but Alex could sense the tension radiating from her. She hadn’t said much since the fight, her focus seemingly elsewhere.

The safe house was a small, weathered cabin nestled deep within the forest. It looked abandoned from the outside, but as Gideon pushed open the door, the interior revealed a well-stocked refuge. Supplies lined the shelves, and a fire crackled in the hearth, as if anticipating their arrival.

“This place is protected,” Gideon explained as they settled Alex onto a worn but comfortable couch. “Darius won’t find us here.”

“For now,” Lila muttered, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. She stood near the window, her gaze scanning the dark forest beyond. “We can’t stay too long. He’ll come after us.”

Mara knelt beside Alex, her hands glowing softly as she channeled her healing energy. “You need to rest,” she said gently. “Let me take care of you.”

He managed a faint smile. “You already are.”

As Mara worked, Lila’s sharp voice cut through the room. “We need to talk about what happened back there. Darius wasn’t just trying to kill us he was testing us. Testing him.” She gestured toward Alex.

Gideon frowned. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying there’s more to this than we know,” Lila replied, her tone edged with frustration. “Darius isn’t acting alone. Someone or something is pulling the strings.”

The room fell silent as her words sank in. Mara’s hands stilled, and she looked up at Lila, her expression defiant. “Alex isn’t a pawn in some game. He’s fighting to protect all of us.”

Lila’s gaze softened, but her voice remained firm. “I know that. But we can’t ignore the possibility that there’s more at stake here than we realize.”

Alex stirred, his voice hoarse but steady. “She’s right.”

Mara looked at him in surprise. “Alex, you don’t have to”

“No,” he interrupted, pushing himself up despite the pain. “Lila’s right. Darius… he said something during the fight. He called me ‘worthy.’ Like I was part of some plan.”

Gideon’s expression darkened. “That’s not good. If they see you as a threat… or a tool…”

“Then we’re running out of time,” Lila finished. “We need answers, and we need them fast.”

Later that night, as the others slept, Alex found himself unable to rest. The firelight danced across the room, casting flickering shadows on the walls. He stared into the flames, his mind racing with questions and doubts.

Mara stirred beside him, her hand reaching out to touch his. “Can’t sleep?”She asked softly.

He shook his head. “Too much to think about.”

She sat up, her eyes searching his. “You’re carrying so much on your shoulders, Alex. You don’t have to do it alone.”

He hesitated, then turned to face her. “What if I’m not strong enough? What if Darius is right, and I’m just a pawn in all of this?”

Mara cupped his face, her touch warm and reassuring. “You’re not a pawn. You’re a fighter. And no matter what happens, I’ll be right here with you.”

Her words wrapped around him like a shield, and for the first time in what felt like days, he allowed himself to relax. He leaned forward, their foreheads touching, and closed his eyes. “Thank you,” he whispered.

The moment was interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. The sound was sharp and urgent, shattering the fragile peace of the cabin.

Lila was on her feet in an instant, her blade drawn. Gideon moved to the door, his staff glowing faintly. “Who’s there?”he called.

A voice answered, low and strained. “Help me… please.”

Alex and Mara exchanged a glance before rising to join the others. Gideon opened the door cautiously, revealing a figure slumped against the frame. It was a young woman, her clothes torn and bloodied, her face pale and terrified.

“They’re coming,” she whispered before collapsing into Gideon’s arms.

The group stared at her in stunned silence, the weight of her words settling over them like a dark cloud. The safe house was no longer safe, and the shadows outside seemed to grow darker with every passing moment.