The night was dark, and the only sound was the soft rustling of leaves in the wind. The group moved silently through the forest, each step carefully calculated to avoid detection. Kellan led the way, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. Behind him, Nova, Liam, and Kira followed, their expressions equally resolute.
Kira, who had been captured and imprisoned with Kellan’s parents, had insisted on coming along. “I know the layout. I know where they’re being held,” she had said, her eyes filled with a fierce determination.
They reached the edge of the forest and crouched down, surveying Dante’s compound from their hidden vantage point. The compound was heavily guarded, with patrols moving in a regular pattern around the perimeter.
Liam pulled out a small, handheld device
