Chapter 19: The Game of Deceit

Alec’s breath came in sharp gasps as he sprinted through the underbrush, branches whipping against his face. His mind was a blur of thoughts, but one thing was clear: he couldn’t afford to stop. Not now. Not when everything was on the line. He had been surrounded, outnumbered, and trapped, but somehow, he had escaped. The tribe members had hesitated before attacking him, but now, they were hot on his trail. He didn’t know why they hadn’t finished him off, but he wasn’t about to give them the opportunity to do so.

In the distance, he could see the flicker of the campfire through the trees. The couple was still there. They hadn’t been caught. That meant he wasn’t too late. He pushed forward with renewed determination, feeling the weight of his mission pressing down on him.

Back at the ridge, Yusen, Ken, and the others had been watching the scene unfold. Yusen had his eyes trained on Alec, his finger hovering over his device, ready to make a move if things went south. Ken was tense, his hand on his sword, his eyes scanning the perimeter for any signs of movement. They all knew that the tribes were lurking out there, and they knew Alec was walking right into their hands.

“Should we move in?” Ken asked, his voice tight with concern.

Yusen shook his head. “No, not yet. Alec’s too close. If we act now, we’ll just expose ourselves. He’s still got this.”

Ken’s jaw tightened. “I don’t like this. It feels wrong. We’re leaving him alone out there.”

“I know,” Yusen muttered, “but Alec’s got instincts. He’ll make it.”

They continued to watch as Alec disappeared into the trees. Minutes passed, but it felt like hours. The sound of distant footsteps grew louder, the tribe members closing in. Alec had only a few moments left before they caught up to him.

As Alec reached the edge of the camp, he crouched low, peering around the corner of a tree. The couple was still there, huddled close to the fire. But something wasn’t right. They were too calm, too composed. Alec couldn’t shake the feeling that they were hiding something. The tribes might have been dangerous, but they weren’t the real threat here.

He knew he had to make his move quickly. His eyes darted to the right, where the shadowy figures of the tribe members were moving closer. Alec’s heart pounded in his chest. He wasn’t sure if they knew he was here, but he had no time to waste. The couple’s safety was at stake, and the tribes’ involvement meant that this was bigger than just a rescue mission. They were caught in the middle of something far more dangerous.

With a final glance toward the approaching figures, Alec made his move. He sprinted toward the couple’s camp, moving quickly and silently, his feet barely making a sound as he crossed the distance between the trees and the camp. The firelight illuminated his path, casting long shadows on the ground. He couldn’t afford to make any mistakes now.

As he approached, one of the couple’s eyes flicked up, catching the glint of his figure in the firelight. The woman’s expression shifted, a faint look of recognition crossing her face. She rose to her feet, her body tense as she glanced around the camp.

“They’re here,” she murmured under her breath.

Alec froze, his heart skipping a beat. How did she know?

But before he could react, the camp exploded into chaos. The tribes had already surrounded them, and Alec barely had time to react as he found himself face-to-face with a towering warrior. The man’s eyes glinted with malice as he brandished his spear, moving to strike.

Alec dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow. The sound of metal slicing the air echoed around him, and his instincts kicked in. He was too close now. Too close to the truth to turn back.

“Get them!” one of the warriors shouted, and the others surged forward, closing in around him. Alec’s eyes widened as he realized the odds were even worse than he thought. Seven of the most powerful tribes were here—he was hopelessly outnumbered.

But he wasn’t giving up.

Alec fought with everything he had, his movements swift and precise. He parried the first strike, ducking low as another spear came at him. He spun, avoiding the sharp point by mere inches. But the tribes were relentless. He could feel their strength, their rage building as they fought to capture him.

The campfire flickered violently, casting eerie shadows across the scene. Alec’s eyes darted toward the couple—were they going to help him, or were they still playing their part in this strange game?

The man of the couple rose from his seat, his expression unreadable. His eyes met Alec’s, and for a moment, Alec thought he saw a flicker of hesitation. But then the man stepped forward, raising his hand. “Stop!”

For a moment, everything went still. The tribes paused, confused by the sudden order.

“We’re not here to fight,” the man said, his voice calm but firm. “We need to talk.”

Alec’s heart pounded in his chest as he took a step back. This wasn’t what he had expected. Was the couple part of the trap? Or was there something else going on?

“You’ve been following us,” the man continued, his gaze shifting between the tribe and Alec. “But you don’t know the full story. You’re in danger, and so are we.”

Alec narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“The tribes are just pawns,” the woman said, stepping forward to join her companion. “There’s something much darker at play here, something none of us can control.”

Alec was silent for a moment, his mind racing. This wasn’t just about the couple anymore. It never had been. It was about something much bigger.

“What’s going on?” he demanded.

The man and woman exchanged a glance. “The relic,” the man said quietly. “It’s more than just a powerful artifact. It’s a key—one that can open a door to another world, another reality. And the tribes are after it. They want it for themselves.”

Alec’s breath caught in his throat. He’d known the relic was important, but he hadn’t known it held the power to change reality itself. This was bigger than he could have imagined.

The woman continued, “We’ve been trying to stop them. But we can’t do it alone.”

Suddenly, Alec realized something. “That’s why the tribes are after you.”

The man nodded. “Yes. They believe we have the key to unlocking the power of the relic. But we don’t. Not yet. We’ve been trying to find the pieces—pieces scattered across the land. And now we’re running out of time.”

Alec’s mind was racing, the pieces of the puzzle starting to fall into place. He had been played. They all had.

“You’re not the ones who need saving,” Alec said, his voice steely. “We need to stop the tribes from getting the relic before it’s too late.”