The view of the city was breathtaking. The busy streets were bustling with life as usual, a vibrant tapestry of movement and sound far below us. The man's directions guided us beyond the city, where the landscape morphed into an expanse of forests and looming mountains.

"Stop here, at the foot of that mountain," the man instructed. Zara and I complied, landing in a clearing surrounded by nothing but trees and greenery. The air was noticeably crisper, filled with the scent of pine and damp earth. A sense of anticipation hung between us, thick with unspoken questions.

"Why here?" Zara ventured, scanning the surroundings.

“Just watch,” the man quipped, displaying his bound hands with a sardonic grin. “Can y’all get this off me? Can’t exactly open the entrance with this on me. Plus, wouldn’t my comrades be more cautious towards you when they see their precious fellow Resistance member is all tied up?”

“Fine. But I’m warning you. Do something funny and you’re crisped,” Zara warned, her tone laced with both resolve and a subtle warning, as she used my knife to cut the man loose.

As the bindings fell away, the man instinctively rubbed his wrists, the circulation slowly returning to his numbed skin. He approached a nearby rock, resting his hand on its surface while whispering something inaudible to us. In response, the ground trembled, a low rumble that seemed to awaken the very mountain.

The mountain split open with a sudden, awe-inspiring spectacle, revealing a hidden metropolis nestled within its depths. Buildings rose like guardians, streets bustling with the movement of people, an entire secret village unveiled before our astonished eyes.

“Welcome to Haven's Reach. The hidden village within the mountains and the main base of the Resistance.”

“Haven’s Reach, huh. Heard that name before. Never thought it was real.” Zara’s astonishment shifted into a sly grin as she turned her gaze toward the man. “I can report you for this, you know? There’s a 10 million bounty for finding Haven’s Reach and capturing its citizens. I can be filthy rich!”

Her words echoed through the hidden village, drawing immediate attention. Suddenly, the air crackled with tension as the residents, previously bustling about their business, pivoted their attention toward Zara. Rifles were shouldered, pistols drawn, all eyes fixated on the unexpected intruder. “Then we might have to make sure that you don’t leave with that in mind, shall we?” The man threatened with a sly grin.

With a smirk, Zara raised her hands in mock surrender, addressing the tense crowd. “Geez people, I was just kidding, can't y’all take a joke? I ain’t reporting nothing.” They had no response. The crowd kept their eyes focused towards Zara, their rifles and pistols still pointed towards her.

A skeptical voice emerged from the crowd, “How can we trust you? Your face ain’t familiar around here,” sparking several hushed whispers in the air.

“Drop your weapons, my people. They are our guests.” A man clad in extravagant attire spoke from a distance. The people obeyed, lowering their weapons and stepping aside. “Welcome! Welcome! City people never visit our humble village that often. Perhaps that’s why my people were cautious. However, both of you are guests. Please follow me. Join us for we are having a party!”

Cheers erupted from the crowd, the sounds of jubilation filling the air as they welcomed their unexpected guests. The once-tense atmosphere transformed into one of celebration, anticipation hanging thick in the air as the guests were led deeper into the heart of Haven's Reach.

Led by the man, we ventured deeper into the heart of the village, passing through winding alleys lined with sturdy stone houses. The air hummed with the harmonious melodies of music and the contagious sound of laughter. People intermingled with a sense of camaraderie.

Their solid structure starkly contrasted to the sleek, futuristic metropolis we came from. Yet, as I glanced back at the distant skyline, an unsettling realization dawned upon me—I didn't know the name of the city. Pausing momentarily, I pondered, retracing my memory for any hint of the city's name. A flicker of uncertainty clouded my thoughts. It was strange—a city so vivid in memory, yet I don’t know its name.

I tugged at Zara's jacket, a seed of uncertainty growing inside me. “Uhm… Zara… What was the city we came from called again?” My voice wavered with an unsettling realization.

Zara turned to me, a furrow forming on her brow. “What? You worked there, twice. How do you not know what it's called?” Her surprise mirrored my own growing confusion.

"I... I don't know," I confessed, a sense of disquiet settling in. "It's odd, isn't it? I've never really stopped to consider it."

"Ventura," Zara said with a sigh, her gaze lingering on the man before she turned toward me. "Remember that."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Thanks," I replied, my voice trailing off. As I glanced down, a sudden shock gripped me. Nestled among the grass, a finger lay discarded, a chilling sight that sent shivers down my spine, freezing the blood in my veins.

My heart raced, the pulse pounding in my ears as I struggled to comprehend the gruesome discovery. What is that doing there? Did Zara notice it? Questions swirled in my mind, a sense of unease creeping over me like a suffocating shroud.

I swallowed hard, fighting the surge of panic threatening to overwhelm me. The serene surroundings of Haven's Reach suddenly felt ominous, tainted by this grotesque anomaly in the peaceful landscape. Dread coiled within me, a foreboding sense that something sinister lurked beneath the village's tranquil facade.

"Psst... kid..." Zara's voice was a whisper, drawing my attention like a magnet.

"Shhhh..." Her finger pressed gently against her lips, a clear signal to maintain silence. I nodded in response, the unspoken urgency in her eyes triggering a surge of questions within me.

"Please, take a seat here." The man's gesture was humble as he bowed and stepped aside, revealing two golden thrones placed before a colossal statue of a woman.

The figure stood tall, draped in a flowing robe that cascaded down to her feet. Her wings stretched out in a majestic display, an ethereal presence frozen in time. Crimson stains streamed from her eyes, resembling tears of blood, an eerie touch to her serene countenance.

In her right hand, the angel held a raised sword, while hidden behind her back on the left side was a noose, its presence strikingly incongruent with the statue's divine visage.

As the man's gesture hung in the air, Zara swiftly made her way to one of the thrones, seizing the seat with an air of command like she was the queen of the village. I hesitated momentarily, then took the seat beside her. A chorus of cheers erupted from the crowd, echoing through the air. The man settled beside us, bordered by men carrying massive axes.

Rising to his feet, the man raised a glass. “I, Angelus Horshire III, welcome you visitors to Haven’s Reach. May you find solace in the mercy of Angelus!”

“SANGUINE LAVARI!” With the crowd’s emotional cheer, the men swiftly raised their axes, aiming toward us. Zara pushed my head down, narrowly dodging their swinging axes. “Huh. So that’s why no one ever finds this place.”

The cheers of the crowd ceased abruptly. Surprise etched across their faces, transforming Angelus's joy into disappointment. "How did you know?" he questioned.

"I don't know," Zara replied with a nonchalant shrug, wearing a confident smirk. "Just a hunch, I guess." With a sudden movement, she lunged toward him, placing her pistol against his forehead. The crowd reacted instantly, aiming their weapons at Zara.

The sudden tension hung in the air like a heavy shroud. Zara's bold move had shifted the balance of power, but it was a precarious gamble. The crowd's weapons were now aimed squarely at her, their collective fury palpable in the charged atmosphere.

Angelus remained surprisingly composed, despite the gun pressed to his forehead. His voice, though strained, carried a hint of curiosity. "What do you hope to achieve by threatening me?"

Zara's smirk widened, a mixture of determination and bravado. “Answers. Ain’t leaving here until you tell me about the prophecy. And don’t play dumb now. I know about your little Elders and Aclima.”

“And why should I please you with what you seek?”

“Because if you don't,” she stated calmly, cocking the hammer back and deftly flicking a bullet up, catching it effortlessly in her hand, “this baby is about to drive into that skull of yours.”

Angelus chuckled, the sound slowly transforming into hearty laughter. "I admire your insight. Perhaps our collaboration will prove beneficial. Lower your weapons, my people." Zara obediently lowered her pistol, and in response, the crowd holstered theirs. "Let the celebration continue!" Angelus declared, and the music resumed, accompanied by the jubilant cheers of the people. "Now visitors, follow me. I shall introduce you to our Elders."

With confident strides, Angelus guided them into a lavishly adorned tent where old people sat encircling a vacant space reserved for him. "My liege, a warm welcome to you. But why have you brought these outsiders to our gathering? Has the sacrifice to Angelus not met its purpose?"

"Indeed, that's correct," Angelus confirmed. "This woman saw through our plans. However, I do believe they can help change the prophecy."

The elders regarded Zara with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. "Can an outsider truly defy the fate that has been ordained for decades?" one of them inquired, his gaze fixed on her.

Zara met their scrutiny with intimidation. “Look here, you old fart. I could care less about your dumbass prophecies. I ain’t letting you merc this kid here.”

The Elders' gasps resonated through the tent. "That's Aclima!" one of them whispered urgently. "We must eliminate her." "Her demise will serve the greater good," another chimed in.

"Enough," Angelus commanded, cutting through their whispered deliberations. "Silence, my esteemed Elders. Yes, this is Aclima. Our attempts to end this child's life have been futile. Perhaps there’s another way. Besides, staining our people's hands with the murder of a child is not a legacy I wish to foster."

The Elders exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions a mix of uncertainty and apprehension. "But she is the harbinger of the prophecy," one Elder protested.

Angelus fixed them with a determined gaze. "Then let us change the course of that prophecy. Aclima might hold the key to our salvation, not our demise. We shall seek a different path, one that doesn't involve spilling innocent blood."

A moment of contemplative silence passed among the elders. Angelus leaned forward, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "We must unite our knowledge and strengths to forge a different path. Let us work together to defy destiny."