Chapter 2 – Fallen and Found (v1)

A Dark Encounter

Kate’s POV

The days following the incident with Dan passed in a haze. I buried myself in work, trying to drown out the questions and fears that nagged at the edges of my mind. The dig site was a constant flurry of activity, the sounds of shovels and brushes against dirt a comforting background noise.

Every evening, we gathered around the campfire, the warmth of the flames and the camaraderie of the team providing a sense of normalcy. I found myself observing the others more closely, looking for any signs that they might have noticed something unusual. But everyone seemed focused on the dig, their excitement and curiosity undimmed.

Elena and I continued our nightly discussions, speculating about the significance of our finds and the stories they told. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and for a few hours each night, I managed to push my worries aside.

Dr. Petrescu, ever the taskmaster, kept us all on our toes. His keen eye for detail and his passion for the work were inspiring, and I often found myself working late into the night, driven by the desire to uncover more of the site’s secrets.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the forest grew darker, I decided to take a walk to clear my head. The path through the woods was familiar, lined with tall pines that swayed gently in the evening breeze. The air was cooler now, carrying the faint smell of damp earth and decaying leaves. Shadows lengthened, and the forest became a maze of dark shapes and eerie sounds. Despite the calming rhythm of my steps, my thoughts were still tangled with the events of the past days.

As I walked, I tried to piece together the puzzle of what had happened with Dan. The warmth I had felt, the way the wound had healed so quickly—it defied all logic. I wondered if it was connected to the ancient artifacts we had been unearthing. Could there be some mystical explanation, some forgotten piece of knowledge we had yet to uncover?

Lost in thought, I almost missed the sudden shift in the atmosphere. The usual forest sounds had fallen eerily silent, replaced by an oppressive stillness. My heart began to race, and I quickened my pace, glancing nervously over my shoulder. The path back to camp seemed longer than usual, the trees closing in around me.

The twilight deepened, casting long, ominous shadows across the forest floor. My footsteps seemed unnaturally loud on the leaf-strewn path, and every rustle of the wind through the branches made me flinch. I tried to shake off the feeling of being watched, but it clung to me like a second skin.

Suddenly, I heard a low growl, and my blood ran cold. I turned, my eyes scanning the shadows. There, among the trees, two glowing red eyes stared back at me. My breath caught in my throat as a hulking shadow emerged from the darkness. The creature was massive, with claws and fangs that gleamed menacingly in the dim light.

Panic surged through me, and I stumbled backward, tripping over a root and falling hard to the ground. The creature advanced, its growl deepening. My mind screamed at me to get up, to run, but my body refused to obey. I raised my arms in a futile attempt to shield myself, my heart pounding so loudly I could hardly hear anything else.

Just as the creature lunged, a blur of movement intercepted it. A tall figure, clad in dark clothing, wielding a sword that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light, stepped between me and the monster. The stranger moved with incredible speed and precision, his sword flashing as he fought the creature with a skill and ferocity that left me breathless.

Within moments, the demon was vanquished, its body dissolving into a foul-smelling smoke. The stranger sheathed his sword and turned to me, his piercing green eyes meeting mine. He was tall and muscular, with dark hair and an aura of quiet strength.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice calm and steady.

I shook my head, still too stunned to speak. He extended a hand to help me up, and I took it, feeling the warmth and strength of his grip.

“My name is Cyrus,” he said, his gaze intense. “You’re not safe here. There are more of those things, and they’re hunting you.”

“Hunting me?” I finally found my voice, though it trembled. “Why?”

Cyrus studied me for a moment, then nodded as if confirming something to himself. “Because of what you are. You have powers, powers that they want. And they won’t stop until they have you.”

“What are you talking about?” I demanded, fear giving way to anger. “They are hunting me because I’m an archeologist?!”

“No,” he said quietly, “you’re much more than that.”

I stared at him, a mix of fear and disbelief surging through me. “I have no idea what you are talking about. And I don’t even know you. Why should I trust you?”

“Because if you don’t come with me, you’ll die,” he said bluntly. “Your powers are like a beacon to them. They can sense you, and they will find you. You’re not safe here, and neither are the people around you.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. My mind raced, trying to process everything he was saying. I glanced back toward the camp, the thought of my friends and colleagues suddenly filling me with dread.

“They’ll be safe as long as you’re not there,” Cyrus added, sensing my concern. “The demons can sense your powers and are drawn to you. They have no interest in regular humans. But if you return, you’ll lead the demons straight to them and they might become collateral damage in the attack. ”

If what he said was true, then staying here would put them all in danger.

Cyrus must have sensed my hesitation. “Look,” he said, softening his tone, “I know this is a lot to take in. But you have to trust me. I can help you learn to control your powers and to hide your presence from them. But we need to go. Now.”

I looked around the darkening forest, the shadows seeming to close in on me.  Earlier that day, I had mentioned to Dan and Elena that I might head to the nearby village to pick up some supplies and wouldn’t be back until late. They likely thought I had decided to spend the night there rather than risk the walk back in the dark. My rational mind screamed that this was insane, but if he was telling the truth, I couldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to the others at the camp.

I took a deep breath, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. Finally, I nodded. “Okay. I’ll go with you.”

As we left the forest behind, the campfire’s glow distant and unreachable, my thoughts were a chaotic storm. What had I just gotten myself into?

Cyrus led me through the dense forest, his movements swift and purposeful. As we moved deeper, the leafy trees gradually gave way to towering pines, their needles carpeting the forest floor and muffling our steps.I followed closely, my heart still pounding from the encounter. The forest seemed even darker now, the tall pines casting long shadows that danced eerily in the moonlight. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional rustle of branches and the soft thud of our footsteps on the forest floor.

After what felt like hours, we arrived at a secluded cabin nestled deep in the woods. It was rustic but sturdy, with smoke curling from the chimney and the soft glow of lanterns illuminating the windows. Cyrus pushed open the door and gestured for me to enter. Inside, the cabin was warm and cozy, a stark contrast to the dark, menacing forest outside.

Cyrus motioned for me to sit at a wooden table near the hearth. He moved to a small kitchen area, where a kettle was already steaming on the stove. He poured a cup of tea and handed it to me, his eyes never leaving my face. I took a sip, the warmth of the tea grounding me somewhat.

“What’s your name?” he asked, sitting across from me.

“Kate,” I replied, my voice still shaky.

“Tell me what you know, Kate,” Cyrus said, his tone gentle but probing.

I frowned, trying to gather my thoughts. “There’s not much to tell. I’m an archaeologist working on the site near the camp you saw earlier. I was just going on a walk when this… thing… attacked me.”

Cyrus leaned forward slightly. “Has anything odd happened recently, before this incident? Anything that seemed out of the norm or even magical?”

I hesitated, my mind flashing back to the strange events of the past few days. “We discovered and have been studying a tablet with unknown writing and symbols. It was like nothing we’d ever seen before.”

He nodded, urging me to continue. “And after that? Did anything unusual happen?”

I took a deep breath. “Yesterday, one of my colleagues cut his hand pretty badly. I… I put my hands over the wound, and it just healed. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Cyrus’s expression grew serious, his gaze intensifying. “Kate, that means you’ve awakened powers somehow. Your encounter with the tablet might have triggered it. Healing is one of the abilities tied to saintly powers. This is why the demons are after you.”

I looked into his eyes, searching for any sign that he might be joking, but his expression was earnest. “So, you’re saying I have magical powers because of an ancient tablet? That sounds… insane.”

“I understand, Kate,” he said softly. “This is a lot to take in, but it’s real. Your powers are a beacon to these demons. They can sense you, and they won’t stop until they capture you. But with training, you can learn to control and hide your abilities.”

I shook my head, still in disbelief. “This doesn’t make any sense. How can I have powers? I’ve lived my whole life as a normal person. How am I supposed to just accept this?”

Cyrus leaned forward, his expression earnest. “I know it’s a lot to take in, Kate. But you’ve already seen what you can do. The healing—it wasn’t a coincidence. Your powers are real, and the sooner you accept that, the better we can protect you and those around you.”

I took a deep breath, trying to process everything he was saying. “So, what do we do now?”

“First, you need to learn to control your powers,” Cyrus said gently. “And we need to figure out how to protect you from them. Your powers make you a target.”

I nodded slowly, the reality of the situation starting to sink in. “This is a lot to handle. But if it means keeping my friends safe, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Cyrus gave me a reassuring look. “We’ll take it one step at a time, Kate. You’re not alone in this. We’ll figure it out together.”

As I sat there, the weight of Cyrus’s words sinking in, I realized that my life was about to change in ways I could never have imagined. I was no longer just an archaeologist. I was part of something much larger, something ancient and powerful. And I was terrified.