The clearing was quieter now, though the tension still crackled in the air like static electricity. Caleb lowered his gun slightly, his gaze flicking to Evelyn.

“You really think this is a good idea?” Caleb asked under his breath.

“No,” Evelyn replied bluntly.

“Great,” Caleb muttered. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

Evelyn turned to Carter, her expression hard. “If we’re going to do this, we do it my way.”

Carter raised an eyebrow. “Your way?”

Evelyn stepped closer, her voice low and sharp. “You follow my lead. No questions, no improvisation. If you can’t handle that, we’re done.”

Carter’s smirk returned, though it lacked its usual humor. “Fine. But don’t forget—your way doesn’t always work out.”

Evelyn didn’t respond. She turned away, her focus already shifting back to the tree line.

Caleb watched her for a moment before turning back to Carter. “What’s your angle in all this?” he asked.

Carter tilted his head, studying Caleb like he was a puzzle to be solved. “My angle? Survival. Same as yours.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“You don’t strike me as the survival type,” Caleb said, his tone flat.

Carter chuckled softly. “And you don’t strike me as the type to get involved in something like this. But here we are.”

Caleb didn’t respond. He didn’t like Carter—didn’t trust him—but he couldn’t deny the man’s confidence. It wasn’t arrogance, exactly, but the kind of self-assurance that came from years of getting what you wanted.

“Let’s get moving,” Evelyn said suddenly, cutting through the silence.

Caleb turned to her, frowning. “Where?”

“There’s a safe house a few miles from here,” Evelyn said.

“And how do you know it’s still safe?” Caleb asked.

Evelyn didn’t answer immediately. She glanced at Carter, then back at Caleb. “We don’t have a choice.”

The group moved cautiously through the forest, the faint glow of flashlights cutting through the darkness. Carter stayed a few steps behind Evelyn, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. Caleb followed close behind, his nerves on edge.

“You really trust this guy?” Caleb muttered to Evelyn.

“No,” Evelyn replied.

“Then why are we working with him?”

“Because we’re outnumbered and outgunned,” Evelyn said bluntly.

Caleb sighed, shaking his head. “This just keeps getting better.”

They stopped at a narrow trailhead, the dense underbrush giving way to a faintly visible path. Evelyn crouched down, her flashlight sweeping over the ground.

“Tracks,” she said quietly.

Carter stepped closer, his expression unreadable. “Recent?”

Evelyn nodded.

Caleb frowned. “Think it’s the Keepers?”

“Probably,” Evelyn said, standing.

Carter smirked faintly. “Looks like we’re not the only ones interested in your little treasure hunt.”

Evelyn shot him a sharp look. “Keep your voice down.”

Carter raised his hands in mock surrender, though his smirk didn’t fade.