"Brother... Brother!" Ivy shook her brother frantically, her voice low but laced with urgency. "Wake up, you jerk!"
"What?" He jolted awake, blinking in confusion. "I fell asleep—"
Their words died in their throats as the door creaked open. Ivy's heart raced, her breath hitching when she saw the figure in the doorway. Ethan instantly stepped in front of her, his protective instincts kicking in.
"Run!" A young man's voice cut through the tension.
He was the same one Ivy had overheard with Grandpa Aiden earlier.
Ivy's head turned around, someone whispered her name. But there was only Lila, still sound asleep. The young man’s eyes widened, his voice trembling with the weight of urgency.
"Can you hear them?"
Ivy nodded.
"That means... they’re close," Lila stirred, waking up from behind.
"Close?" Ivy repeated, her voice trembling with fear.
"Enough," Ethan snapped, his eyes darkening with determination.
"She needs to know the truth," the young man insisted.
"She's just a child!"
Suddenly, a scream echoed from the other room. "Aghhhh!"
The sound sent a jolt of terror through everyone. Ethan instinctively moved to rush towards the scream but hesitated, torn between protecting Ivy and investigating the danger.
"You Jerk, come on! We have to go!" Ivy urged as she took off running.
Ethan's hesitation vanished. He chased after Ivy, and the others quickly followed, their footsteps pounding against the wooden floor. As they burst into the room, Ivy's breath caught in her throat.
Blood. It was everywhere, seeping from Dylan's hand where deep gashes and cuts marred his skin. The sight of it made Ivy's stomach churn.
"Brother! You’re hurt!" Sadie’s voice was a desperate cry.
"What happened?" Ethan demanded, his gaze sweeping the room.
His eyes dropped to the floor, where a gaping hole had been torn through the wood, splinters jutting out like jagged teeth.
"Impossible," the young man muttered, his face pale. "There’s protection and incense around the house. Unless there’s—"
"Wait, who the hell are you?" Aria’s voice was sharp, filled with fury and suspicion.
But before she could say more, her words were cut off by a sudden gasp, her eyes wide with shock. Blood gushed from her mouth as a sharp piece of wood pierced through the door and stabbed her in the chest.
Ethan's heart raced as he grabbed Ivy, pulling her toward the nearest window. There was no time to think, only to act.
"Jump!" he commanded, his voice leaving no room for hesitation.
Ivy didn’t hesitate, diving through the window as the others followed, their movements frantic. Ethan held Ivy’s hand like a lifeline, his grip tight as they fled into the night.
"Run, and don’t look back," Ethan ordered, hoisting Ivy onto his back as they sprinted through the darkness, the others close behind.
Ivy clung to her brother, her mind racing as they tore through the forest. Ethan was a blur of motion, every step sure, every turn precise, as if he knew the way. When they finally reached the campsite, Ethan set Ivy down with a calm that belied the chaos they had just escaped.
"Damn it! Finally, the sun is rising, and how did you even know the way here? Didn’t you..." Sadie’s voice trailed off, eyes wide with disbelief.
"I just kept running until I saw the campsite," Ethan replied, his tone cool and detached.
"Are you okay, Dylan? Let me clean and bandage your wounds," Aria offered, concern lacing her words as she moved closer.
But Lila stepped in, her eyes narrowing as she caught Aria’s intent. "I'll handle it. I also have medicine with me. Follow me, Dylan."
Without another word, Dylan followed Lila, who led him a short distance away from the group. As she tended to his wounds, the tension in the air was palpable.
"You! You know what’s going on, don’t you?" Sadie’s voice sliced through the silence, her finger pointed accusingly at Ethan.
"Me?" Ethan shot back, his voice as cold as steel. "You’re the one who brought us here. This was your plan, your idea. I’m just trying to protect Ivy."
Sadie’s accusation faltered, her anger replaced with a stunned silence.
"Let’s not turn on each other, Brother, please. We need to talk," Ivy pleaded, stepping between them.
She took a few steps away from the group, her mind racing, and Ethan followed, his eyes never leaving her.
"Brother," Ivy turned to face him, her eyes filled with determination. "I have the right to know everything."
Ethan’s expression softened as he patted her head with a small smile. "I can protect you, Ivy."
But Ivy slapped his hand away, stepping back. "Don’t you trust me? Brother, I know you and Lila are hiding something. I’m not a child anymore. It’s just the two of us now—"
"Tsk," Ethan smirked, a hint of something dark in his eyes. "None of this is your fault."
"Me?" Ivy’s voice wavered, uncertainty creeping in.
Ethan stepped closer, taking her hand firmly in his. "They won’t take you from me, Ivy. I promised... I promised our parents."
"I won’t trust you, Brother, not until you tell me everything," Ivy said, pulling her hand away.
Before Ethan could respond, Lila appeared behind him, her expression grim. "We need to leave. It’s not safe anymore."
"You really are a jerk, aren’t you?" Lila snapped, her voice filled with frustration. "This won’t end if you keep running away! Get it together and let’s finish this."
Ethan turned on her, his grip on her hand tightening, his eyes burning with a silent threat.
But Lila didn’t flinch. She met his gaze head-on. "You can’t intimidate me, Ethan. Just say it!"
"Shut up, Lila, or—" Ethan’s threat was cut short as he suddenly crumpled to the ground, unconscious from the sharp blow Lila delivered to the back of his neck.
"Don’t worry, he’s strong," Lila reassured Ivy, noticing the fear in her eyes.
"Why did you do that?" Ivy asked, her voice shaking.
Lila shrugged, crossing her arms with a casualness that belied the gravity of the situation. "You... You’re the one they want."
"M-me?" Ivy stammered
Lila exhaled deeply, the weight of the truth pressing down on her. "You recovered from your illness back then because your parents made a deal with them."
"What are you talking about?" Ivy’s voice trembled, the words barely escaping her lips.
"The price for your recovery was their lives," Lila revealed, her voice soft yet heavy with sorrow. "Think about it, they get what they want back then... yet... they want to take you. Is it just you? Or maybe... just maybe... you are the way. But why did you come here? I guess you can’t trust everyone, Ivy..."
Lila moved closer, her eyes locking onto Ivy’s as she whispered, "You woke them up. They want you. They’re going to take you—"
Before Ivy could react, Dylan shoved Lila away, his face pale but determined. "You’re not well yet, Dylan! Your wounds are still fresh," Lila said coldly. "Are you trying to be the hero here?"
She looked at Dylan’s wounds with the only thing available, a makeshift bandage torn from a handkerchief.
"Are you deceiving us? You know more than you’re telling. But I won’t let them take Ivy," Dylan said, his voice resolute.
Ivy’s mind spun with confusion and fear, unable to process the whirlwind of revelations crashing down on her.
"Oh, so you’ll protect Ivy, huh?" Sadie spat, her voice dripping with bitterness. "What about the me, Brother? Doesn't my life matter too? Idiot!"
"Yeah, yeah, of course I'll protect you,' Dylan said, forcing his laugher to stop in a serious situation.
"If you won’t tell us the truth, then we can’t stay with you," Dylan declared to Lila.