By the time they left the safety of the ridge, Refuge still felt like a distant hope, its silhouette blending with the rugged hills ahead. The journey had taken its toll on them—every step was a struggle, each mile etched with hardship. Jack pushed forward with an iron will, his eyes scanning the horizon, his movements steady, his determination unyielding.
The sun blazed overhead, casting harsh shadows across the parched earth. Jack’s skin prickled under its unrelenting heat, and he knew Sam and Lila were struggling just as much, though they did their best to keep up without complaint. Every so often, Jack glanced back at them, his gaze lingering on Lila’s tired face and Sam’s strained steps.
“You two holding up?” he asked, his voice rough but laced with concern.
Sam managed a weary smile, wiping the sweat from his brow. “We’re fine, Grizzly. Just keep leading us. We’ll make it.”
Lila nodded, her eyes bright despite the exhaustion. “Yeah. I didn’t come all this way to give up now.”
Jack nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Good. It’s not far, but it won’t be easy.”
The terrain grew steeper as they went, forcing them to navigate loose rocks and narrow paths that crumbled underfoot. Jack’s instincts kept them safe, his movements careful, every step calculated. But he could see the weariness in Sam’s face, the strain in Lila’s steps. And then there was Ezra, bringing up the rear, his expression haunted as he followed them in silence.
They stopped to rest under the shade of a rocky outcrop, the land around them stark and lifeless. Sam slumped against the rock, breathing heavily, while Lila sat beside him, her shoulders drooping with fatigue. Jack scanned their surroundings, his senses sharp, his gaze lingering on Ezra, who sat apart from the group, his hands fidgeting as he stared at the ground.
Lila glanced at Jack, her eyes thoughtful. “Grizzly… you think Refuge is really like people say?”
Jack shrugged, his gaze distant. “Only one way to find out. But it’s not going to be a paradise, that’s for sure.”
Sam gave a tired chuckle, rubbing his sore neck. “Maybe not, but it’s got to be better than the Sanctified breathing down our necks.”
Ezra’s head snapped up at the mention of the Sanctified, his expression darkening. “Magnus thinks Refuge is his birthright. Says it’s a place for ‘the lost’—but to him, that just means people he hasn’t gotten his claws into yet.”
Jack watched him, his jaw tightening. “And you think he’d really come after it?”
Ezra let out a bitter laugh, his eyes hollow. “He doesn’t think he has to come after anything. He thinks it’s already his, waiting for him to reach out and claim it. That’s why he’s gathering forces, sending his enforcers out to mark territory. He wants people to know he’s coming for them.”
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The words hung heavy in the air, each of them feeling the weight of Magnus’s reach. Lila shivered, glancing nervously at Jack. “But… if we get there first, we’ll be safe, right?”
Jack didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked at the barren landscape, the vast emptiness that seemed to stretch on forever. “Maybe. Or maybe it’ll be just another fight. But whatever it is, we’ll face it together.”
Lila gave him a small, brave smile, and Jack felt a flicker of pride. She’d come a long way since they first met—a survivor in her own right, with the grit to keep going no matter how bleak things got.
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As they pressed on, the land around them began to shift, the dusty plains giving way to rocky ridges and narrow ravines. The path was treacherous, every step filled with uncertainty, and Jack led them with quiet determination, his machete ready, his senses sharp. They passed the remnants of old battle sites—rusted weapons, shattered bones, the twisted remains of what might once have been vehicles or makeshift shelters.
Ezra’s gaze lingered on the grim scenery, his face drawn. “Magnus has been through here,” he muttered, almost to himself. “This is how he breaks people. Reminds them what’s waiting if they don’t fall in line.”
Jack shot him a hard look. “And you’re sure you’re done with him?”
Ezra’s face tightened, a look of shame flickering in his eyes. “I’ll never be done with what he put in my head. But I know who I am now. And it’s not what he tried to make me.”
Jack nodded, watching him closely. He’d been wary of Ezra from the start, but he could see the man’s struggle, the weight he carried, and in that moment, Jack felt a flicker of empathy. They were all trying to escape something, and some chains were harder to break than others.
By the time they reached the outskirts of Refuge, dawn was breaking, casting a pale light over the settlement’s fortified walls. The sight of it stirred something deep within each of them—a mixture of hope, relief, and caution.
Jack crouched behind a ridge, studying the settlement’s defenses. The walls were patched with scavenged metal, the gates reinforced with heavy barricades, and a handful of guards kept watch from elevated towers. Refuge looked as if it had seen its share of battles, and Jack felt a grudging respect for the people inside. They’d fought to hold onto what they had, and that meant they wouldn’t take kindly to strangers.
“We made it,” Lila whispered, her face lighting up with a rare smile. “We’re here.”
Sam placed a hand on her shoulder, his own face filled with quiet relief. “It’s real, Lila. All this time… it’s real.”
Jack felt a pang of something he couldn’t name—a mixture of pride and protectiveness, a feeling he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years. They’d come this far together, and despite everything, he felt a sense of connection, a loyalty that ran deeper than survival.
But his instincts reminded him to stay cautious, and he kept his gaze on Ezra, who stood with his arms crossed, his face pale and tense. The journey had taken its toll on all of them, but none more so than Ezra, who seemed haunted by the ghosts of the Sanctified, as if Magnus’s presence still lingered over him like a shadow.
“What now?” Sam asked, his voice low.
Jack’s expression hardened, his gaze fixed on the gates of Refuge. “Now we see if they’re willing to let us in.”
They descended from the ridge, their steps steady, each of them feeling the weight of the journey behind them and the uncertainty of the future ahead. For better or worse, they had arrived, and whatever waited for them inside Refuge, they would face it together.
As they approached the gates, Jack felt a steely resolve settle over him, a silent vow to protect the people he had come to care about. Magnus’s reach was long, his ambition relentless, but Jack was ready. No matter what came next, he would face it head-on, as he always had.
Inside Refuge, surrounded by the only family he had left, Jack Carson felt a sense of purpose he hadn’t known in years—a reason to fight, a reason to believe.
And if Magnus thought he could take that away, he’d be in for a fight he’d never forget.