Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: The Road’s Peril

The journey to the Cascade Mountains began at dawn. The convoy consisted of 12 trucks and buses, carrying 200 Guard members and 500 civilians. Elias rode in the lead truck with Nova and Jax, while Mia and Lila traveled in the middle, with Leo and the other children. The road was rough, littered with debris and abandoned cars, and they had to stop frequently to clear the path.By noon, they'd traveled 15 miles, but progress slowed when they reached a collapsed bridge. The river below was swollen, and Wraiths lingered on the opposite bank. "We can't cross here," Jax said, scanning the area with his binoculars. "Too many Wraiths, and the current is too strong."Nova pulled out a map. "There's a ford three miles north. It's shallow, but it's unguarded—last time I checked, anyway."Elias nodded. "We'll take the ford. Mia, send a scout ahead to check for Wraiths. Jax, have your team guard the rear—we don't want to be ambushed."The convoy turned north, moving slowly through the woods. Mia's scout returned 45 minutes later, reporting no Wraiths at the ford. "It's clear," he said. "But the water's cold—we'll need to move fast to keep the engines from stalling."They reached the ford an hour later. The river was shallow, but the current was strong, and the water was icy. Jax led the first truck across, its wheels splashing through the water. The engine sputtered, but it made it to the other side. One by one, the trucks and buses crossed—until the last bus, carrying Leo and the children, got stuck in the mud."We need to push it!" Elias shouted, jumping into the water. Jax and a group of Guard members joined him, pushing the bus. The mud was thick, and their boots sank into it. Leo leaned out the window, cheering. "Push harder! You can do it!"Just as the bus started to move, Mia's Danger Sense screamed. "Wraiths! They're coming from the woods!" She pointed to the treeline, where a group of 20 Wraiths was charging. Elias cursed, teleporting to the bank and activating his Energy Barrier. "Get the bus across!" he yelled. "I'll hold them off!"The Wraiths attacked, slamming into the barrier. Elias poured energy into it, his arms shaking. Jax and the others pushed the bus, finally getting it to the other side. Nova ran to Elias, her sword drawn. "We need to go!" she said. "The barrier won't hold forever!"Elias nodded, lowering the barrier and teleporting to the other bank. He joined his friends, watching as the Wraiths tried to cross the river—only to be swept away by the current. "They can't swim," Jax said, laughing. "Good thing, too."Elias smiled, but his relief was short-lived. He noticed Mia staring at the treeline, her face pale. "What is it?" he asked. "More Wraiths?"Mia shook her head. "No… something else. A stronger energy signature. It's not Wraiths. It's human."