2025-01-16 16:32:36The group moved through the forest in tense silence, Alex supported by Gideon and Mara as he struggled to stay on his feet. The battle with Darius had taken more out of him than he wanted to admit, and every step was a reminder of how close he’d come to losing everything.
“We’re almost there,” Gideon said, his voice steady but strained. “There’s a safe house nearby. We can rest and regroup.”
Alex nodded weakly, his vision blurring. Mara’s arm tightened around him, her warmth a small comfort against the encroaching cold. He glanced at her, catching the worry etched across her face.
“I’m okay,” he murmured, though his voice lacked conviction.
“No, you’re not,” Mara replied, her tone firm. “But you will be. I promise.”
Lila, walking a few steps ahead, glanced back at them. Her expression was unreadable, but Alex could sense the tension radiating from her. She hadn’t said much since the fight, her focus seemingly elsewhere.
The safe house was a small, weathered cabin nestled deep within the forest. It looked abandoned from the outside, but as Gideon pushed open the door, the interior revealed a well-stocked refuge. Supplies lined the shelves, and a fire crackled in the hearth, as if anticipating their arrival.
“This place is protected,” Gideon explained as they settled Alex onto a worn but comfortable couch. “Darius won’t find us here.”
“For now,” Lila muttered, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. She stood near the window, her gaze scanning the dark forest beyond. “We can’t stay too long. He’ll come after us.”
Mara knelt beside Alex, her hands glowing softly as she channeled her healing energy. “You need to rest,” she said gently. “Let me take care of you.”
He managed a faint smile. “You already are.”
As Mara worked, Lila’s sharp voice cut through the room. “We need to talk about what happened back there. Darius wasn’t just trying to kill us he was testing us. Testing him.” She gestured toward Alex.
Gideon frowned. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying there’s more to this than we know,” Lila replied, her tone edged with frustration. “Darius isn’t acting alone. Someone or something is pulling the strings.”
The room fell silent as her words sank in. Mara’s hands stilled, and she looked up at Lila, her expression defiant. “Alex isn’t a pawn in some game. He’s fighting to protect all of us.”
Lila’s gaze softened, but her voice remained firm. “I know that. But we can’t ignore the possibility that there’s more at stake here than we realize.”
Alex stirred, his voice hoarse but steady. “She’s right.”
Mara looked at him in surprise. “Alex, you don’t have to”
“No,” he interrupted, pushing himself up despite the pain. “Lila’s right. Darius… he said something during the fight. He called me ‘worthy.’ Like I was part of some plan.”
Gideon’s expression darkened. “That’s not good. If they see you as a threat… or a tool…”
“Then we’re running out of time,” Lila finished. “We need answers, and we need them fast.”
Later that night, as the others slept, Alex found himself unable to rest. The firelight danced across the room, casting flickering shadows on the walls. He stared into the flames, his mind racing with questions and doubts.
Mara stirred beside him, her hand reaching out to touch his. “Can’t sleep?”She asked softly.
He shook his head. “Too much to think about.”
She sat up, her eyes searching his. “You’re carrying so much on your shoulders, Alex. You don’t have to do it alone.”
He hesitated, then turned to face her. “What if I’m not strong enough? What if Darius is right, and I’m just a pawn in all of this?”
Mara cupped his face, her touch warm and reassuring. “You’re not a pawn. You’re a fighter. And no matter what happens, I’ll be right here with you.”
Her words wrapped around him like a shield, and for the first time in what felt like days, he allowed himself to relax. He leaned forward, their foreheads touching, and closed his eyes. “Thank you,” he whispered.
The moment was interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. The sound was sharp and urgent, shattering the fragile peace of the cabin.
Lila was on her feet in an instant, her blade drawn. Gideon moved to the door, his staff glowing faintly. “Who’s there?”he called.
A voice answered, low and strained. “Help me… please.”
Alex and Mara exchanged a glance before rising to join the others. Gideon opened the door cautiously, revealing a figure slumped against the frame. It was a young woman, her clothes torn and bloodied, her face pale and terrified.
“They’re coming,” she whispered before collapsing into Gideon’s arms.
The group stared at her in stunned silence, the weight of her words settling over them like a dark cloud. The safe house was no longer safe, and the shadows outside seemed to grow darker with every passing moment.
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Bargain Infernal Episode 11: Beneath the Ashes
The girl lay unconscious near the fire, her body a fragile silhouette against the flickering light. Outside, the forest seemed to hold its breath. The air was heavy with the promise of something dark, something watching.Alex sat slumped in a chair near the hearth, his head tilted back as if exhaustion had finally claimed him. But his mind refused to rest. Mara knelt beside the cot, her fingers brushing a damp cloth across the girl’s bruised forehead.“She’s barely holding on,” Mara murmured, glancing at Gideon, who was sifting through their dwindling supply of herbs.“She’s been through more than any human should endure,” Gideon replied, his voice tinged with sorrow. “And if she made it here, it means she was running from something worse.”“Darius,” Lila said from her post at the window. Her blade glinted faintly in the firelight as she balanced it in her hand. “And if she’s right about them hunting us, he won’t be far behind.”Mara’s jaw tightened. “We can’t just leave her like this
Bargain Infernal Episode 12: Whispers of the Damned
The forest was shrouded in mist, the pale gray tendrils curling through the trees like ghosts searching for lost souls. Every step Alex took felt heavier than the last, his mind replaying the girl’s words over and over."You’re not just part of his plan, Alex. You’re the plan."He gritted his teeth, trying to focus on the path ahead, but the weight of uncertainty pressed down on him like a stone. The others moved silently, their own unease reflected in their tense postures.Gideon led the way, his staff glowing faintly in the dim light. “We’re getting close to the sanctuary,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s hidden, warded against the damned. If we can reach it, we’ll have time to regroup and figure out our next move.”“Assuming it’s still there,” Lila muttered, her hand never straying far from the hilt of her blade.“It’s there,” Gideon said firmly. “It has to be.”The girl, still pale and weak but able to walk on her own now, walked between Alex and Mara. Her name wa
Bargain Infernal Episode 13: Echoes of Betrayal
The night outside the sanctuary was still, but inside, the group was restless. The battle had left everyone on edge, their nerves frayed and their tempers short. Alex sat in a corner of the sanctuary, staring at the glowing runes of the seal. The light pulsed faintly, as though alive, a silent reminder of its power and his connection to it.Ella approached him cautiously, her footsteps light on the cracked stone floor. She carried a small mug of herbal tea, the steam curling upward in delicate spirals. “You should drink this,” she said, her voice soft. “It’ll help.”Alex glanced up at her, his expression wary but grateful. “Thanks.” He took the mug and sipped, the warmth spreading through him like a soothing balm.Ella sat down beside him, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Finally, Alex broke the silence. “You seem to know a lot about this seal. About me. More than you’ve told us.”She didn’t meet his gaze, her eyes fixed on the glowing ru
Bargain Infernal Episode 14: The Gate’s Whisper
The group trudged onward, the forest thinning as dawn broke over the horizon. The light brought no comfort, only the weight of unanswered questions. The encounter with the cloaked figure had left them rattled, and Alex’s display of power was a stark reminder of the unknown forces bound to him.“Do you think they’ll come back?” Mara asked, her voice low. She walked close to Alex, her hand hovering near her weapon.“They always come back,” Lila muttered from ahead, her sharp eyes scanning the path.Gideon, who had been silent for most of the journey, finally spoke. “We’re heading toward the stronghold now. If Darius is there, we’ll have answers soon enough.”“If we survive,” Lila said grimly.Ella, walking at the rear, looked pale and drawn. She clutched a small charm around her neck, her lips moving in silent prayer. Alex noticed her unease and slowed his pace to walk beside her.“You okay?” he asked.She glanced at him, her expression weary. “No,” she admitted. “But I doubt any of us
Bargain Infernal Episode 15: The Abyss Beckons
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Bargain Infernal Episode 17: The Price of Protection
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Episode 219: The Forsaken Queen
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Episode 218: The Moment When the World Picked a Side
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Episode 217: The Gods Must Bleed
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Episode 216: The Ah Which Ends Worlds
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