Chapter 28: The Escape and Pursuit.

Green Arbor had just begun to stir awake, the morning sun barely cresting over the trees, when a wave of panic swept through the quiet town. A young Arbor Defense Force (ADF) member, breathless and wide-eyed, burst into the Sentinel post, his uniform disheveled and fear evident in his every movement.

“Miko! You need to come quickly—the mayor... the mayor has escaped!" His voice cracked with urgency, as he struggled to catch his breath, the words tumbling out in a rush.

Miko’s expression darkened, a sense of dread creeping into his chest as he stood. “Where?” he demanded, already moving towards the door.

“They—” the guard faltered. “They ambushed the holding cells.”

Miko’s face went pale as he barked orders over his shoulder. "Ava! Talon! Meet me at the holding cells, now!"

The three of them sprinted through the streets of Green Arbor, weaving between townspeople who were still unaware of the brewing storm. The urgency was palpable as they reached the holding cells, but nothing could have prepared them for the sight that awaited.

Two Arbor Defense Force members lay sprawled in pools of blood, their lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling, their hands still clutching their weapons. Nearby, Officer Clara, one of the most loyal ADF members, was slumped against the wall, gasping for air, her uniform soaked in blood. Miko dropped to his knees beside her, pressing his hands against the wound on her abdomen in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding.

“They... they ambushed us,” Clara choked out, her voice weak and raspy. “I... I thought they were our friends.” Her words hit like a hammer, the betrayal hanging heavy in the air.

Miko’s eyes were filled with sorrow, but also with a growing anger. His hands, trembling with grief, were now covered in her blood. “Stay with me, Clara. Just... stay with me.”

Ava and Talon arrived, their footsteps skidding to a halt as they took in the horrific scene. Talon’s jaw clenched, his fists curling in rage. Ava’s heart pounded in her chest, her breath shallow as she watched Miko fight to keep Clara conscious.

“Damn it,” Talon muttered under his breath, kneeling beside Miko. “This isn’t over. That traitor won’t get far.”

Clara's breathing grew more labored, her strength fading rapidly. Her eyes, wide with fear and regret, flicked toward Miko. "I'm... sorry," she whispered, her voice a fragile thread. “They... fooled us.”

The room fell into an agonizing silence as Clara’s chest rose one final time before falling still. Miko’s hands hovered over her body, now drenched in blood, as if he could still reach her, pull her back. But it was too late.

A heavy stillness filled the room, a moment where grief gave way to something far more dangerous. Miko slowly stood, his face a mask of fury. His hand slammed the cell door shut with a resounding *bang* that echoed down the hallway. His voice was tight, filled with barely contained rage. "He won’t get away with this."

Talon stood as well, his body tense, fists clenched at his sides. "We’ll find him," he said quietly, his words more a promise than a statement. "And this time, there’s no coming back."

Ava’s eyes hardened, her lips set in a grim line. "Let’s make sure we do it right," she said, her voice like steel. “For Clara. For everyone.”

Outside, the sun was now fully in the sky, casting a harsh light on a town that had been thrust into chaos. A group of ADF members stood waiting for orders, their faces etched with determination, but also fear. The weight of the situation hung heavy in the air, and all eyes were on Ava and Talon.

Talon stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Split up! Half of you with me, the rest with Ava. We search every inch of these woods, every cave, every hiding spot he could be using. We end this today."

The young ADF guard from earlier, still shaken, met Ava’s eyes as she approached. His hands trembled slightly as he clutched his weapon, fear evident in his posture.

Ava placed a firm but gentle hand on his shoulder, her voice soft yet reassuring. “Hey, you okay?” she asked, her blue eyes locking onto his.

He nodded, though his hands still trembled slightly.

“Stay close to me,” Ava continued, her voice filled with quiet determination. “And don’t worry. We’ll make them pay—for your friends.”

The young guard straightened slightly, finding strength in her words. He nodded again, his resolve hardening.

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Talon passed by, nodding silently at the young guard before looking back at Ava. “You ready for this, Blondie?”

Ava smirked, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Always.”

They fanned out into the wilderness surrounding Green Arbor, their boots crunching on the frost-covered ground as they moved swiftly, determined to catch the mayor before he disappeared for good. Ava led her team with a sharp focus, her mind racing. The mayor had been desperate enough to kill ADF members—his escape could lead to further bloodshed if they didn’t stop him in time.

Every rustle in the bushes, every crack of a twig underfoot heightened their senses. The tension was palpable as they scoured the forest, knowing that somewhere ahead, the mayor and his accomplices were on the run.

Talon’s group moved parallel, his eyes scanning the horizon. His fists tightened around the handles of his blades, a grim reminder of the violence that could unfold at any moment. "He’s not getting away this time," Talon muttered to himself, his voice a low growl.

Suddenly, a signal whistle echoed from one of the groups—*they’d found something*.

Ava raised her hand, signaling her team to pick up the pace. They sprinted toward the sound, their breath visible in the cold morning air. The hunt was on, and they were closing in.

The chase for the mayor ended abruptly, not with a gunfight or quiet surrender, but under the twisted branches of an ancient oak tree that loomed over the clearing. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and tension. As Talon and his team from the Arbor Defense Force approached, they spotted the mayor perched precariously on a rickety stool, a noose already tight around his neck.

Surrounding the mayor were several men—syndicate enforcers, their expressions cold and unreadable. Their leader, a tall, broad-shouldered man with an icy gaze, stood a few paces away, arms folded across his chest.

Talon stepped forward cautiously, his hand hovering near the hilt of his blade, but the leader stopped him with a sharp gesture. "This is syndicate business," he said, his voice devoid of sympathy. "This man owed a debt, and now he’s paying."

As Talon’s jaw tightened, his mind raced through options, weighing whether to engage or de-escalate. Just then, a familiar rustle came from the tree line behind him.

Ava stepped out of the shadows, her presence silent but commanding. She had been watching the entire scene, lying in wait in case things went south. Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword, eyes scanning the situation with cold calculation. Talon gave her a quick glance, acknowledging her readiness, but neither said a word.

Before any more words could be exchanged, the syndicate leader nodded to one of his men. Without hesitation, the stool was kicked out from under the mayor. His body dropped, and the rope snapped tight around his neck. His legs jerked and flailed in a grotesque dance, the sound of his strangled breaths and desperate struggles filling the clearing.

The leader’s cold voice broke the grisly silence. "Debt settled."

Ava’s hand twitched near her sword, but she remained still, her sharp gaze shifting to Talon, waiting to see how he would respond.

Talon’s fists clenched, his knuckles white with restrained fury. "That wasn’t necessary," he said through gritted teeth. "We would have brought him to justice."

The syndicate leader fixed his hard gaze on Talon, unbothered by the accusation. "Justice?" he scoffed. "There’s no justice here, Sentinel. Only debts. And he’s paid his."

Ava stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as they locked onto the leader. "You’ve made your point. Now what?"

The leader's smirk didn’t falter. "Now, it’s your turn." He motioned to two men bound and kneeling in the dirt beside the tree, fear etched into their faces. "These two betrayed your trust, led you here. Consider them a gift from the syndicate. They’re yours to deal with—your justice, however you see fit."

Talon’s eyes flicked to the two bound men, his mind still racing with conflicting emotions. Anger and disgust churned in his gut, but Ava’s steady presence beside him reminded him of who he was—a Sentinel, not a butcher.

The syndicate leader’s smile widened as he sensed the internal struggle in Talon. "You have a choice now, Talon Holt," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Green Arbor is safe as long as you are. But outside of it, you're fair game. The shadows are always watching."

Talon’s eyes narrowed, fury burning in his chest. "Are we safe today?" he asked coldly.

The leader shrugged casually, as if the question was of no consequence. "For today, yes. Tomorrow, who knows? Tomorrow’s always up for negotiation." He turned to leave, tossing one last parting shot over his shoulder. "But remember, Sentinel—cross the syndicate again, and the next debt to be settled might be yours."

As the syndicate members melted back into the trees, disappearing as quickly as they had come, the clearing grew eerily quiet. The mayor’s lifeless body swayed gently from the tree, a grotesque symbol of the chaos and corruption that had been festering in Green Arbor.

Ava’s voice broke the silence. "They're testing us. Trying to see how far they can push."

Talon didn’t respond immediately. His eyes were fixed on the spot where the syndicate leader had disappeared, his thoughts racing. "This isn’t over," he finally muttered, his voice thick with frustration. "They’re not done with us."

Ava nodded, her expression grim. "They never are."

Talon turned his attention to the two bound men still kneeling in the dirt, their faces pale with terror. "You thought selling us out would save you?" he growled, stepping toward them. "You thought betraying Green Arbor would buy you a future?"

One of the men stammered, "We—we didn’t know it would go this far. We thought—"

"Shut up," Talon snapped, cutting him off. "You’re alive because I haven’t decided what to do with you yet. But don’t mistake that for mercy. Green Arbor doesn’t forgive traitors."

Ava approached, her voice low and deadly as she looked down at the trembling men. "You’ll be brought back to town. The council will decide your fate."

Talon glanced at Ava, appreciating her calm yet lethal demeanor. Together, they motioned for their team to secure the prisoners.

As the ADF members hauled the men to their feet and marched them toward town, Ava and Talon remained behind for a moment, their eyes scanning the darkened tree line. The weight of the syndicate’s threat lingered in the air, and both knew this was only the beginning.

Talon finally broke the silence, his voice filled with resolve. "The line between peace and peril is getting thinner, Ava. And we can’t afford to let our guard down."

Ava nodded, her hand resting on her sword. "We’ll face it, whatever comes. Just like always."