Chapter 52: is this how it ends.

The twilight shadows stretched across the forest as Callie ran, each ragged breath clawing its way out of her throat. The trees around her seemed to close in, thickening and darkening as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting her in near-complete darkness. Six to 8 bandits were hot on her trail, their voices cruel and relentless, echoing through the woods like a dark spell.

Her muscles burned, each step feeling like it would be her last, but she pushed on. She scrambled up a steep bank, her fingers digging into the soil as she heaved herself forward. Her heart thundered, terror gripping her every thought. She’d survived so much already, but now? Out here, alone, hunted… She didn’t know if she could make it.

The bandits were relentless, their footsteps and taunts trailing her like dark shadows. “Just give up, girl! You can’t run forever,” one of them shouted, his voice taunting and full of venom. “We just want the bounty on a Sentinel! You’re worth more alive.”

Pressing herself against a tree, Callie dared not breathe as the taunts grew louder, closer. Her mind was racing, spiraling in and out of fear. *This can’t be how it ends. Not like this.* She clutched her pistol, her grip shaking. She had only three bullets left—three desperate, precious chances to survive. Her knife felt small in her other hand, a poor match against six or so armed men.

As she tried to calm herself, to remember her training, another voice called out, dripping with malicious glee. “Come on out, girlie! There’s no use hiding. We know you’re around here.”

She braced herself, every muscle in her body tense, her thoughts circling through a mantra she barely believed. *Stay calm, stay quiet, think of Ava. Think of Talon.* But the doubt crept in like poison. What would Ava think of her getting lost, out of ammunition, surrounded? Would Talon be disappointed, after all he’d taught her?

A rough laugh cut through her thoughts. “She’s shaking like a leaf somewhere, I bet! I can almost smell her fear.”

She flinched, instinctively squeezing herself against the rough bark of the tree, as if it could shield her. *I have to move… I have to… I can’t let them…* But the fear had her paralyzed. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to breathe.

With a burst of courage, she stepped out and fired one of her last three rounds. Her shot hit one of the bandits, the crack of the gunfire echoing through the silent woods. The other bandits yelled in shock before a chilling laugh rang out. “Still got some fight, huh? Well, keep running, girlie. Let’s see how far you get!”

Heart hammering, Callie broke into a desperate sprint. Her feet pounded the forest floor, her breath a shallow, frantic rhythm. Branches scratched her face and hands, tangling in her hair, but she couldn’t stop. The woods seemed endless, and her legs were losing strength with every step.

The bandits’ voices were all around her now, their laughter mingling with her own gasps and the rustle of the underbrush. “Come on, Sentinel! Out of bullets yet?” another voice taunted.

She stumbled to a halt, taking cover behind a fallen log. Her heart pounded so loudly she thought they’d hear it. *Think, Callie. Think.* She glanced down at her pistol, knowing she had only two bullets left. *Make them count.*

Trembling, she fired again, another shot echoing through the darkening forest. A mocking voice laughed, “can't have many left, girl. Better make them good one's.”

Desperation clawed at her chest as she scrambled back to her feet, running with a single round left and nowhere to hide. She could almost feel them closing in, feel their hands ready to drag her down. A single tear slipped down her cheek, and she bit her lip, forcing herself not to sob. *Ava, Talon… I’m sorry. I don’t know if I can…*

With her last shred of courage, she turned and fired her final shot, the empty click of the trigger, the slide locking back echoing like a death knell in her mind. *That’s it.* She let out a shaky breath, her fingers trembling as she clutched her knife close to her chest, a final, desperate shield.

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“Time’s up, sweetheart!” a bandit yelled, his voice filled with vicious glee. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the end. She held her knife close to her chest, and with her other hand covered her ear, as fear and all hope was slipping away.

But then… another sound, sharp and familiar, sliced through the night. The roar of rifle fire erupted from the shadows, followed by shouts of pain and panic. Callie’s heart raced, hope sparking in the darkness.

“Did you miss on purpose, Blondie, or are you getting rusty?” a familiar, teasing voice called, filled with mock annoyance.

Longing flooded through Callie. *Ava.*

“Oh, I was just lining them up for you,” another voice replied, calm and easy, like she had all the time in the world.

The fear in her chest released its grip, replaced by an overwhelming, almost dizzying relief. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized: *They came for me.*

“Well, you don’t think I’d let you handle the heavy lifting, do you?” The casual, confident response was unmistakably Miko’s.

Callie struggled to her feet, her knees weak, her heart swelling with gratitude as she whispered, “Ava, Talon, Miko…” Her voice was barely a whisper, choked with relief and exhaustion.

More gunfire rang out, cutting through the night with lethal precision. The last few bandits screamed, realizing too late they’d stumbled into their own trap. The forest around her fell silent once again, the echo of gunfire fading, leaving only the steady sounds of footsteps approaching her.

As Ava stepped into view, Callie let out a ragged sob. “You’re safe now, kiddo,” Ava said, her voice soft, her arms open and ready to hold her.

Callie collapsed into her embrace, her body trembling as the tears finally flowed. “I was so… so scared. I thought… I thought…”

Ava held her close, stroking her hair with gentle, reassuring hands. “As long as I have breath, you’ll never be left behind. I swear it.” Her words were fierce, steady, filled with love and strength.

Talon knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder, his expression warm. “We’ll always come for you. Promise.”

As Callie clung to Ava, she felt the world slowly begin to steady. Her heartbeat, once pounding with terror, now slowed as she took in the comforting presence of Ava, Talon, and Miko. She felt Ava’s arms around her, grounding her, as if all the fear and panic from moments before were melting away. Ava’s steady heartbeat under her cheek became a rhythm she could finally relax into.

“You’re safe now, kiddo,” Ava whispered, her voice filled with a rare tenderness. She pulled back slightly, lifting Callie’s chin to look her over, her eyes narrowing with protective concern as she spotted a small cut on Callie’s cheek. “No scars, kiddo,” she murmured, a soft smile breaking through. “You’re too young to be collecting those just yet.”

Callie managed a shaky laugh, still feeling the warmth of Ava’s hands on her shoulders. She hadn’t even realized how much she’d needed this—a reminder that she was never truly alone. Even out in those dark woods, facing her worst fears, they had come for her.

Talon stepped in, placing a hand on her back, his expression equal parts worry and relief. “Don’t think we’d let you off that easy, kid,” he teased, squeezing her shoulder lightly. “We’re just lucky you didn’t decide to take all of them on before we got here. Would’ve been disappointed if you’d left none for us.”

Miko gave a quiet chuckle, his gaze gentle as he looked her over. “That was one hell of a fight, Callie. You’re braver than you know.” He ruffled her hair lightly, adding, “We’ve got your back, always. Just remember that.”

As they started to lead her back through the forest, Callie felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude, warmth, and safety wash over her, each step bringing her closer to Green Arbor and farther from the night’s horrors. Ava’s arm stayed around her shoulder, steady and reassuring, while Talon walked close by, keeping a sharp eye on the woods around them, like a silent guardian ensuring nothing else would come near her.

The group moved quietly, yet Callie could feel their presence enveloping her like a protective shield. She glanced over at Ava, whose face softened as she held her close. Even Talon’s typical banter had taken on a lighter touch, his quiet smile and gentle nudges reminding her that she was more than a cadet to them—she was family.

As they approached the outskirts of Green Arbor, Callie’s exhaustion began to catch up to her, but the warmth of her friends’ presence kept her grounded. Miko moved beside her, giving her a supportive pat on the back. “You did well, kiddo,” he said softly. “We’ll be swapping stories about you for weeks.”

For the first time since her ordeal began, Callie allowed herself a small, tired smile. With these people beside her, she knew she could face anything.

The woods had been dark and unforgiving, but here, wrapped in the warmth of her chosen family, Callie realized something powerful: they would always find her. No matter where she was, no matter how lost or afraid she felt, they would be there to guide her back.

And with Ava, Talon, and Miko by her side, she knew she’d never walk alone again, well she had friends.