Alex ran blindly through the forest, every tree a blur, every shadow a threat. The last time he saw Karen, she was smiling, her hand brushing Carla's arm as they laughed at something stupid. Now… silence.
"Karen!" he roared again, his voice scraping raw against the wind.
He stopped at a fork in the trail, panting. Something wasn't right.
There were no signs of a struggle, no scream, nothing. It was like she had vanished into thin air just like the guide said about the priest.
Luca caught up a few seconds later, his breath steady, but his eyes sharp. "There's a clearing east. Some of the caves are marked on the resort map. She may have been lured in."
Alex's fists clenched. "Lured?"
Luca nodded. "Or called."
Alex didn't wait. "Lead the way."
Back at the ruins, Carla was pale, trying to calm the panicked staff. "No one should move! Alex said we stay put!" she shouted, though her voice trembled.
The guide kept his expression unreadable. "These things happen. Tourists wander off...we'll find her."
Carla narrowed her eyes. "If anything happens to her..."
"She's with Alex," Dami said, appearing beside her. "That man would burn the world if she were gone."
Inside the cave…
Karen backed away from the voice. "Who's there?"
A silhouette stepped into view....hooded, tall, face obscured by shadows. "You shouldn't have come to Avalon," he said softly, almost like he pitied her.
Karen's voice trembled. "I didn't come here for anything, i just followed...."
The man raised his hand. "They won't find you here."
A panic attack gripped her chest. She turned to run, only to slam against a solid wall.
No door, no opening, nothing.
"Where....where am I?" she breathed.
The man tilted his head. "You're in the land of debts, Miss Karen. And someone's past is about to collect."
In the woods…
Luca stopped, eyes narrowing. "Here," he whispered "There's a disturbance in the brush."
Alex stepped forward and saw it....a bracelet. Her bracelet, the one he gave her before the retreat.
He bent down, picked it up with trembling hands, and then slowly looked up.
"They took her," he said, his voice breaking. "They took her."
Luca didn't flinch. "Then we bring her back."
Alex turned toward the resort, eyes blazing. "Call off the retreat, send everyone home. Only we stay."
Luca met his gaze and nodded. "Understood."