Fate betrayal

CHAPTER 1 8

CHAPTER 18: The Hunter become Hunted

As Aria and her friends made their way further into the dark woodland, anxiety was high in the air. For days, they had been pursuing the outlaws, their trail a meandering course of devastation that sliced across the hitherto tranquil woods. At this point, the sunlight hardly made it through the thick canopy above, giving the forest floor a spooky, broken glow. The woodland seemed alive with invisible dangers, and every twig crack and leaf rustling jangled nerves.

With her knuckles white, Aria clenched her fist around the hilt of her blade. Her keen senses, sensitive to even the smallest movement, surveyed their surroundings. The stifling stillness of their mission had taken the place of the calm banter among her comrades hours ago. The weight of their faith, which she worried she would not be able to maintain, was bearing down on her. She had not sought for the duty of leading them, and every step she took was tinged with self-doubt.

"Remain near," Aria said in a barely discernible whisper. "Somewhere here they are."

The group's tracker, Liam, nodded from where he stood in front of her. His keen blue eyes looked for indications of the rogues' passing on the earth. Elise and Kael moved in formation behind her, their faces tense with focus and their guns drawn. Elise's magic sparked softly around her fingers, a quiet hum in the silence, while Kael's customary arrogant manner gave way to grim resolve.

"Are we about to fall into a trap?" With a deep growl, Kael questioned. "Something doesn't feel right."

Aria took a while to respond. She had the same depressing sensation, a real-life sense of being seen. But there was no way out. Each raid had seen the rogues' assaults become more vicious as they terrorized neighboring settlements. They were the only ones preventing the rogues from causing further destruction, and people were dying.

Finally, Aria said, "We spring it on our terms if it's a trap."

Her heart pounded in her chest, despite the bravery of her words. She made herself ignore the worry and concentrate on the work at hand. When lives were on the line, she could not afford to make a mistake.

Everyone's attention was caught by a rapid movement to their right. With her gaze fixed on the location where a shadow had darted between the trees, Aria paused. Her heartbeat accelerated, and she gestured for everyone to disperse. Kael and Elise went to surround whatever was hiding in the darkness, while Liam knelt down with his bow ready.

The strain was intolerable, and the quiet was deafening. Then mayhem broke out like a thunderclap.

They dispersed as a barrage of arrows descended from above. A rogue sprang from the canopy, blade shining, and Aria dived behind a tree, sword ready. The intensity of the collision echoed up her arm as she deflected the blow barely in time. Despite wearing a mask to hide his face, the rogue's savage grimace was clearly visible.

"Aria!" Kael yelled and rushed in her direction. Another rogue caught up to him, their swords colliding in a shower of sparks.

Elise let forth a magical blast, a dazzling arc of light that briefly pushed the outlaws back. However, others sprang out of the darkness, their numbers overpowering. Aria gave her all in the battle, moving with control and precision, but she had never encountered such aggression from her assailants.

"They're after us!" Liam yelled while shooting arrows as fast as he could. "No, she is their target!"

Aria felt as if she had been struck in the chest by the knowledge. The rogues were not coming to cause mayhem or indiscriminate killing. They were here to get her.

As she dodged another blow, the question gnawed in the back of her mind: "Why me?" However, there was no time to think about it. With their blade aiming at her heart, a rogue sprang at her. They crumpled to the ground as she sidestepped and slashed upward.

"Aria, retreat!" Elise cried in a strained voice as she simultaneously repelled two rogues.

"I am unable to!" Aria responded with a yell. The others would be exposed if she backed off. She was unable to leave them.

The rogues, however, persisted. There appeared to be two more for every one they felled. Aria's breath came in jagged spurts, and her arms hurt. Her eyes stung as blood trickled from a little cut on her forehead. Even though she was being pushed to her breaking point, the rogues continued to assault her exclusively.

Then a voice broke through the confusion. Deep, powerful, and tinged with evil.

"Enough."

Almost immediately, the combat stopped, and the rogues fled like ghosts into the darkness. A stranger came forward, and Aria stumbled, blade still lifted. Tall and wearing black armor, he had a cowl covering his face. However, his aura radiated strength, and his presence was oppressive.

The figure murmured, "Aria," in a chilly voice. "You've been a real pain in our side."

Her legs were shaking, but she forced herself to stand up straight and narrowed her eyes. She wanted to know who you were. "What are you looking for?"

The stranger made a low, ominous laugh. "My identity is not really important. You are what I want, however.

"Me?" Aria's heart fell. "Why?"

His tone was almost reverent as he replied, "Because you are the key." "The secret to everything."

He held out a hand before she could comprehend what he had spoken, and the earth shook under her feet. She was flung back, hitting the ground with force, the world whirling. Her vision dimmed and pain shot through her. She could see the guy moving forward through the fog, his purpose obvious.

"No!" With a shout, Kael rushed toward him. However, with a quick motion of his palm, the figure launched Kael into a tree, where he collapsed motionless.

"Aria!" Elise let out a scream, but her power was easily extinguished, and she was also subdued.

Aria attempted to get up, but her body resisted. The darkness of the creature engulfed her as it hovered over her.

He whispered, "Surrender," in a quiet but menacing voice. "Or see your friends perish."

Desperation clawed at her as her thoughts raced. She couldn't sacrifice her friends, but she also couldn't let him take her. The air was suddenly filled with a loud, unearthly scream that seemed to emanate from nowhere and everywhere at once as she strained to find a way out.

The figure paused, looking around. Aria took advantage of the situation and used her remaining power to grab her weapon. But before she could hit, a dazzling light poured out from the earth under them. With a curse, the person retreated as the light engulfed him, disappearing into thin air.

Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the light vanished, and there was nothing but quiet.

Aria lay still, her head spinning, her body bruised. What had just taken place? What or who had rescued them?

She pushed herself to sit up, looking at her friends. Elise and Liam rushed to Kael's side as he moaned and stirred a little. She felt a wave of relief, but it passed quickly.

A pair of blazing eyes stared her, unblinking, from the shadows. Aria's blood froze as a deep growl echoed across the woodland.

The conflict had not ended. Not quite yet.