The Hunt Begins
842 Words
The forest erupted into chaos.
Gunshots cracked through the trees like thunder, lighting the darkness with brief flashes of fire.
Amanda’s heart slammed against her ribs.
“Stay down,” Ben whispered.
They crouched behind the fallen tree while shouting voices echoed through the forest.
“Spread out!”
“Find them!”
Amanda recognized some of the voices.
Her father’s men.
The people who had watched her grow up.
The men who used to greet her every morning at the gates of the Stone estate.
Now they were hunting her.
Another gunshot rang out — this one closer.
Amanda flinched.
“Why are they shooting?” she whispered.
Ben didn’t answer immediately.
He glanced toward the distant lights flickering through the forest.
“They’re not just shooting at us,” he said quietly.
Amanda frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Before he could answer, a man suddenly burst through the trees.
One of the Stone guards.
He stopped the moment he saw them.
“Miss Stone!”
Amanda’s breath caught.
“Please,” the man said, lowering his weapon slightly. “Your father sent us to bring you home.”
Home.
The word felt strange now.
Amanda slowly stood.
Ben grabbed her wrist.
“Wait.”
But Amanda stepped forward anyway.
“Marcus…” she said softly.
The guard’s face softened with relief.
“Miss Stone, thank God we found you. This place isn’t safe. The Chains are here.”
As if summoned by the words, another engine roared in the distance.
Different vehicles.
Different headlights.
Amanda’s stomach dropped.
“The Chains?” she whispered.
Marcus nodded grimly.
“They’re moving through the north side of the forest. Looks like they knew exactly where you were going.”
Amanda turned to Ben.
“How could they know that?”
For a split second, something unreadable passed across Ben’s face.
Then it was gone.
“I don’t know,” he said.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Miss Stone, we need to leave now before their men reach this side.”
Amanda hesitated.
Going back meant facing her father.
Facing the fury of the Stone family.
But staying here meant war.
Ben gently squeezed her hand.
“You should go with them,” he said quietly.
Amanda stared at him.
“What?”
“It’s safer.”
“You’re coming with me.”
Marcus immediately shook his head.
“That won’t happen.”
Amanda’s voice hardened.
“Yes, it will.”
“Miss Stone,” Marcus said carefully, “your father’s orders were very clear.”
The sound of gunfire suddenly exploded nearby.
Much closer this time.
Marcus turned toward the noise.
“Too late,” he muttered.
Shadows moved through the trees.
Figures stepping out from the darkness.
Amanda felt the air leave her lungs.
The Chain family had arrived.
Black suits.
Cold eyes.
And at the front of them stood a tall man with silver hair and a cruel smile.
Victor Chain.
Ben’s father.
“Well,” Victor said slowly, clapping his hands once.
“What a beautiful reunion.”
Marcus raised his weapon immediately.
“Stay back!”
Victor chuckled.
“You Stone men always were dramatic.”
Amanda’s heart pounded.
Victor’s eyes moved past Marcus and landed on Ben.
For a moment, the forest went completely silent.
Father and son stared at each other across the darkness.
Then Victor smiled.
“Hello, son.”
Amanda blinked.
Something about the way he said it felt wrong.
Like he already knew exactly how this night would end.
Ben stepped forward slightly.
“Leave them alone.”
Victor laughed softly.
“Oh, Benjamin…”
His gaze shifted toward Amanda.
“So this is the girl who started all this trouble.”
Amanda felt Marcus move protectively in front of her.
“You’re not taking her.”
Victor raised an eyebrow.
“Taking her?”
His smile widened.
“My dear man… I’m not here for the girl.”
His eyes returned to Ben.
“I’m here for my son.”
Amanda’s grip tightened on Ben’s hand.
Confusion flooded her mind.
“Ben… what is he talking about?”
Ben didn’t answer.
Gunshots erupted again behind them.
Stone guards.
Chain soldiers.
The forest was turning into a battlefield.
Victor sighed dramatically.
“Look at this mess.”
He gestured toward the chaos.
“Two great families spilling blood over something so predictable.”
Amanda felt a chill crawl up her spine.
“What do you mean?”
Victor’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
But before he could answer, Ben suddenly grabbed Amanda’s hand.
“Run.”
Marcus shouted.
“Miss Stone, go!”
The forest exploded with movement again.
Bullets tore through branches as Amanda ran blindly beside Ben.
Her heart pounding.
Her thoughts spinning.
Because something about this night felt wrong.
Something about the way Victor had looked at Ben.
Something about the way Ben had gone quiet.
And deep in Amanda’s chest, a terrifying thought had begun to grow.
What if this war…
had never been about the two families at all?
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