The old sedan rumbled steadily along the winding road from Pulung Maragul, its headlights cutting through the thickening dusk. Geneva's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles pale beneath the dim glow of the dashboard. Her eyes, sharp and alert, flicked between the road ahead and the rearview mirror, where the faint outline of the forest blurred behind them. Beside her, Eloisa sat quietly, her arms wrapped protectively around Dana's carrier. The black tabby's soft purring was a fragile comfort in the tense silence that filled the car.
In the backseat, Marco leaned forward, his gaze scanning the darkening landscape through the window. His fingers twitched restlessly, as if the fire simmering beneath his skin was eager to break free. Next to him, Tala sat hunched, his dark eyes wide and wary. His hands clenched and unclenched on his lap, the earth beneath the tires whispering faintly, as if responding to his restless energy.
The road ahead was dotted with checkpoints—grim sentinels of the new order. Armed soldiers stood rigid, their faces hard and unyielding beneath the harsh glare of floodlights. Each checkpoint was a gauntlet, a test of nerves and forged papers. Geneva's forged ID and calm demeanor had gotten them through the first few without incident, but each stop tightened the knot of anxiety in her chest.
As they approached the next checkpoint, the sedan slowed, the engine's hum dropping to a cautious idle. The soldiers stepped forward, their eyes scanning the vehicle with practiced suspicion. One of them—a tall man with a scar running down his cheek—paused longer than the others, his gaze lingering on the backseat where Tala sat.
There was something unusual about the boy. His dark eyes held a depth that unsettled the soldier, a quiet intensity that seemed to ripple through the air. The earth beneath the car trembled faintly, unnoticed by most but not by the soldier. His hand hovered near his rifle, fingers twitching.
Geneva met his gaze steadily through the windshield, her voice calm but firm. "We're just passing through. No trouble."
The soldier's eyes flicked back to Tala, then to Marco, whose fingers briefly glowed with a faint ember-light before retreating. Eloisa sat still, clutching Dana's carrier tightly, the cat nestled comfortably in her lap, unaware of the tension.
After a long, silent moment, the soldier nodded curtly. "Move along."
The sedan eased forward, the tension inside the car slowly releasing like a held breath. Geneva exhaled quietly. "That was close."
Marco rubbed his wrists, the heat beneath his skin pulsing erratically. "They sensed something."
Tala's voice was barely a whisper. "I felt it too. Like they saw more than they let on."
Eloisa looked between them, worry creasing her brow. "We can't keep running forever."
Geneva's jaw tightened. "No, but for now, we have to. The mountains of Arayat are our best chance."
The road narrowed as they climbed into the foothills of Mount Arayat. Trees thickened, their shadows swallowing the fading light. The air grew cooler, scented with pine and damp earth. The sedan's tires crunched over gravel and fallen leaves as they veered off the main road onto a barely visible dirt path.
Mavian, Marco's pale-feathered pigeon familiar, circled above them, its sharp eyes scanning the treetops. The bird's presence was a silent reassurance, a guardian watching from the shadows.
After several minutes, a small village emerged from the trees—simple wooden houses with tin roofs, smoke curling from chimneys. The quiet was almost unnatural, broken only by the distant call of birds and the rustle of leaves.
Geneva slowed the car, eyes scanning for signs of danger. "We'll lay low here for a while. There's a cabin in the forest nearby. It's old, but it'll keep us hidden."
They parked the sedan behind a thicket and moved cautiously through the village, avoiding the few residents who glanced their way with suspicion. The forest loomed close, dark and dense.
The cabin was nestled among towering trees, its weathered wood blending with the shadows. Inside, dust motes danced in the shafts of fading light. A stone fireplace stood cold but intact, and a stack of firewood lay neatly piled.
Eloisa set down Dana's carrier gently. "This will be safe… for now."
Geneva locked the door behind them, her gaze lingering on the windows. "We rest, we plan, and we prepare. The world outside is closing in."
Marco sank onto a creaking chair, rubbing his hands together. "We need to train Tala. His power's unstable."
Tala sat on the floor, eyes wide but determined. "I want to learn. I don't want to hurt anyone else."
Outside, the wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the distant echoes of a world on the brink.
---
The first night in the cabin was restless. The forest pressed close, shadows shifting beyond the thin walls. Geneva sat by the fireplace, her hands wrapped around a mug of lukewarm tea, exhaustion etched deep into her features. Eloisa sat nearby, stroking Dana's fur, the cat's purring a steady rhythm in the quiet room.
Marco and Tala were outside, beneath the canopy of stars, attempting to harness the earth and fire that stirred within them. Marco's hands glowed faintly as he coaxed small flames to dance on his fingertips, while Tala knelt on the ground, trembling as stones and dirt lifted hesitantly around him.
"Focus on the ground," Marco instructed softly. "Feel it, don't fight it."
Tala's breath hitched as a small rock hovered, then tumbled to the earth. "I'm scared," he admitted.
Marco nodded, eyes reflecting the firelight. "Me too. But we have to try."
Above them, Mavian watched silently, its pale feathers ruffling in the night breeze.
---
Inside the cabin, Eloisa's heart beat unevenly, a constant reminder of her fragile condition. She had no powers yet, but her presence was a steadying force for the others. She glanced toward the window, sensing something beyond the trees—a shadowy figure lurking just out of sight.
The figure watched Tala, patient and silent, its intentions unknown.
Eloisa shivered, pulling her cloak tighter. "We're not alone," she whispered.
Geneva looked up from her thoughts, eyes sharp despite her weariness. "We never are."
---
Days passed in uneasy quiet. The trio and Tala trained, planned, and rested in turns. The forest around them was both sanctuary and prison, the outside world closing in with every passing hour.
Checkpoints remained a constant threat, but for now, the mountains of Arayat offered a fragile refuge—a place to gather strength before the storm to come.