After We Said Goodbye

THE EYES IN THE FOREST 1

The forest had gone too quiet.

Maya noticed it first.

There were no birds calling from the trees. No insects buzzing in the undergrowth. Even the wind seemed to have slowed, leaving only the occasional rustle of leaves overhead.

She tightened her grip around the strap of her bag and glanced toward the trees.

Something was wrong.

Behind her, boots pressed into the damp earth.

Adrian.

She didn't need to look to know it was him. She had spent too many years knowing the sound of his footsteps.

"Slow down."

His voice carried from behind her.

Maya kept walking.

"I'm walking."

"You're practically running."

"I'm not."

Adrian caught up with her, his expression as unreadable as ever.

"The ground is uneven."

"I know."

"There are loose rocks ahead."

"I can see them."

"Then watch where you're going."

Maya glanced at him.

"You've been giving orders since we left."

"Because you haven't been listening."

"I've been listening."

"You've ignored every one."

She rolled her eyes and continued down the narrow trail.

The path curved around a rocky slope, its surface slick from the rain that had fallen the previous night. Roots pushed through the soil, creating natural obstacles along the trail.

Maya stepped over one.

Then another.

She was halfway across a particularly narrow section when her boot landed on a loose stone.

Her foot slipped.

"Ah—"

Adrian caught her arm before she could fall.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

His hand was wrapped firmly around her forearm.

Maya looked down at it.

Then at him.

"I had it."

"You were falling."

"I was recovering."

"You were falling."

"I would've recovered."

"You would've landed face-first."

"I have better reflexes than that."

Adrian released her.

"You clearly don't."

Maya stared at him.

"You know, you're still incredibly annoying."

"And you're still terrible at following instructions."

She scoffed.

"I followed your instructions."

"You almost broke your neck."

"That was one rock."

"One rock you were warned about."

Maya folded her arms.

"You've always been like this."

"Like what?"

"Acting as if everyone around you is one bad decision away from dying."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"In my line of work, that's usually true."

The answer silenced her for a moment.

It was so typically Adrian.

Practical. Direct. Unapologetic.

Maya looked away first.

"Well, I'm not one of your soldiers."

"I know."

"Then stop treating me like one."

"I would if you'd stop giving me reasons to."

She turned sharply.

"You—"

A faint c***k came from somewhere ahead.

Both of them froze.

Adrian's entire demeanor changed.

The irritation disappeared from his face.

His hand went immediately to his weapon.

"Stay behind me."

Maya's eyes narrowed.

"I heard it."

"Then stay behind me."

She didn't answer.

Around them, Adrian's soldiers stopped moving.

Lieutenant Reyes raised a hand.

Everyone became still.

The forest seemed to hold its breath.

Adrian scanned the trees.

Nothing.

Only trunks.

Leaves.

Mist.

Shadows.

"Positions," he ordered quietly.

The soldiers spread out.

Cruz crouched near a tree, rifle raised.

"Could've been an animal," he whispered.

Reyes glanced at him.

"An animal that knows how to walk quietly?"

Cruz shrugged.

"Some animals are smarter than you."

"Some aren't."

"That's why I said some."

Adrian ignored them.

His gaze remained fixed on the forest.

Maya stood several feet behind him, trying to see through the thick vegetation.

She knew these mountains.

She knew how the wind moved through the trees.

She knew how animals sounded when they were disturbed.

This wasn't an animal.

Someone was there.

She could feel it.

Adrian slowly lifted two fingers.

The soldiers moved forward.

They searched the immediate area without making a sound.

A few minutes passed.

Then Reyes crouched.

"Sir."

Adrian approached.

Reyes pointed toward the ground.

A patch of soil near the base of a tree had been disturbed.

Fresh.

Not enough to leave a clear footprint.

Just enough to show that someone had recently stood there.

Adrian's eyes moved upward.

A branch had been cut.

The cut was clean.

Deliberate.

Maya stepped closer.

"That's not old."

Adrian looked at her.

"You recognize it?"

"No."

She wasn't lying.

But she knew what it meant.

Someone had been watching them.

And whoever it was knew the trails.

They moved again.

This time, Adrian kept the group tighter.

Maya walked near the center.

She hated it.

But she said nothing.

They hadn't gone far when the sound came again.

Movement.

Not one person.

Several.

Adrian raised his hand.

Everyone stopped.

Maya looked through the trees.

There.

A shadow.

Then another.

Figures moved between the trunks.

Fast.

Organized.

Armed.

The faction.

Adrian's voice was barely above a whisper.

"Contact."

His soldiers raised their rifles.

"Hold."

One of the figures stopped.

For a split second, Maya saw him clearly.

Dark clothing.

A rifle strapped across his chest.

A cloth wrapped around his lower face.

He looked directly at them.

Then he disappeared behind a tree.

"Move!" Adrian ordered.

The soldiers surged forward.

Branches snapped beneath their boots.

Maya followed instinctively.

Adrian turned.

"Stay back!"

She ignored him.

"You're going to lose them!"

"I know."

"Then let me—"

"No."

"Adrian—"

"Stay where you are."

His voice left no room for argument.

Maya stopped.

The soldiers pushed deeper into the forest.

Then—

Nothing.

The figures were gone.

It was as if the forest had swallowed them.

Cruz returned first, breathing hard.

"Nothing."

Reyes emerged behind him.

"They knew exactly where the trail would split."

Adrian stared into the trees.

"They wanted us to see them."

Maya frowned.

"Why?"

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he looked around.

The silence had returned.

Too quickly.

"They're not running from us," he said.

Maya's stomach tightened.

"They're leading us."