Page 14

AVA

I cough, the taste of blood and dirt clinging to my throat.

My body aches from the impact, but I scramble to my feet, fighting against the dizziness clouding my vision.

Kairon stands just outside the cave opening, a silhouette against the dim light filtering through the trees.

He stares at me like I’m a problem he doesn’t want to solve.

“You took your time,” I mutter, trying to mask my weakness.

His sneer is sharp enough to cut through the tension. “You’re pathetic. Can’t even stay alive without me.”

The words slice deeper than his blade ever could, hitting a nerve I didn’t want exposed, a truth I’ve buried beneath layers of ambition and denial.

I can feel the heat of shame creeping up my neck, my cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

I push the feeling down, forcing myself to breathe steadily, focusing on the rhythm of my inhalations and exhalations, trying to center myself amidst the chaos surrounding us.

With a scowl etched firmly on my face, I unwillingly follow him out into the suffocating embrace of the jungle.

The thick foliage looms overhead like a canopy of despair, heavy and oppressive, as I begin the arduous climb up the steep slope leading from the cave.

Each step sends jolts of pain through my weary muscles; my body protests, sending sharp reminders of my limitations, but I ignore it, pushing through the discomfort with sheer willpower.

I can’t afford to show weakness, not now.

Kairon moves ahead with an ease that feels infuriating, each of his strides purposeful and confident.

He’s built for this—an apex predator in his natural habitat—while I struggle with each uneven rock and twisted root, my feet stumbling over the obstacles that seem to conspire against me.

The heat of the jungle clings to my skin, the humidity wrapping around me like a wet blanket, making my muscles feel heavier, as if they’re laden with the weight of my own inadequacies.

I catch a glimpse of him ahead, his towering figure cutting through the dense underbrush effortlessly, and the sight only fuels the fire of frustration within me.

I grit my teeth, forcing my legs to keep moving, each labored breath a reminder that I’m still alive, still fighting.

But with every painful step, I can’t shake the nagging thought: Kairon is right, and that realization gnaws at me like a relentless predator, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again.

“Slow down,” I snap, trying to keep pace.

He glances back at me, irritation etched into his features. “Keep up or get left behind.”

I grit my teeth, resisting the urge to shoot back something sharp in return. He might have saved me from that creature, but he doesn’t get to act like he’s doing me any favors.

The jungle wraps around us like a suffocating blanket as we move in silence.

Kairon leads the way, his broad shoulders cutting through the dense underbrush with ease.

I follow, my legs feeling like lead weights, each step dragging me deeper into despair.

My body trembles—not just from fatigue but from a nagging realization that gnaws at my insides.

He’s right. I barely lasted minutes alone. The thought stings, sharper than any blade he carries. I want to scream at him for mocking me, but the words die on my lips. What would be the point?

I scan the thick trees, their twisting branches casting shadows that flicker ominously in the low light.

Every rustle makes my heart race, every shift in the air sends adrenaline flooding through me.

Out here, all my training means nothing.

Back in the IHC halls of power, I could strategize and calculate; here, instinct and survival take precedence—and I’m failing at both.

What happened to that ambitious junior lieutenant ready to conquer challenges head-on? She’s buried beneath layers of jungle muck and self-doubt.

Plans to rise through the ranks feel like delusions now, foolish dreams that evaporate in the heat of this damned planet.

The weight of my family’s failures clings to me like damp clothing, reminding me of everything I’m trying to escape.

My palms sweat as I brush away thoughts of home—of their disappointment mingled with shame.

Kairon stops abruptly at a fallen log blocking our path, his silhouette framed against the fading light filtering through leaves above. He turns slightly; those crimson eyes lock onto mine.

“Move,” he says flatly, as if my struggles are inconsequential.

I swallow hard, fighting back resentment. There’s no use arguing; it’ll only remind me how vulnerable I am.

With a grunt, he vaults over the log effortlessly. I follow suit but stumble slightly on landing—a reminder that every action carries weight here. My muscles scream in protest as I force myself forward.

As we approach camp, shadows deepen around us like gathering storms. A sense of foreboding fills the air; whatever small sense of security we had is gone.

Kairon moves about our camp with confidence while anxiety churns within me like an untamed beast. Alone in this wilderness with him feels both exhilarating and terrifying—the thin line between predator and prey blurring with each passing moment.

A pulse of frustration surges through me as I watch him methodically check our gear.

Every part of me wants to shove him away, prove that I don’t need his help—but reality tells a different story.

My heart races with anger and something else—something that coils tight in my stomach whenever he’s near.

“We need to keep moving. It’s crucial that we try to find a relay beacon…

or even any signs of a nearby settlement that could offer us shelter and safety,” I assert, my voice slightly quavering, betraying the uncertainty that lurks beneath my brave facade.

It sounds almost pitiful to my own ears, a reminder of the vulnerability I desperately wish to conceal.

“Fine. Get your shit together. We move in five,” Kairon snaps back, his tone sharp enough to slice through the thick tension hanging between us. There’s an edge to his voice, a command that brooks no argument, and I can feel my skin prickle in response.

I grit my teeth, forcing myself to swallow down the rising tide of irritation and resignation swirling within me.

He’s right, of course; I can’t afford to dwell on how deeply I despise being tethered to him in this vast wilderness.

Yet, despite my frustration, I know that he is the only thing standing between me and the unforgiving jungle that threatens to swallow me whole.

The reality of that truth gnaws at me, amplifying my heart’s frantic rhythm as I wrestle with the conflicting emotions that twist within—anger, helplessness, and an undeniable awareness of how much I rely on him to survive in this situation.