Chapter 20: The Pain Of Betrayal

Alec stood still, his eyes locked onto the couple in front of him, his mind racing with everything they had just revealed. The relic, a key to another world. The tribes after it. But the woman’s words echoed in his mind—“We can’t do it alone.” Was it possible that they hadn’t been telling the truth all along? Was there more to their story?

The air was thick with tension, the crackling fire the only sound breaking the heavy silence. Alec’s fingers twitched, his instincts screaming at him to be cautious, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that the stakes had just gotten much higher.

“So, what now?” Alec finally asked, his voice hoarse. “You expect me to just trust you?”

The man, still standing tall, nodded solemnly. “I know it’s hard to believe, Alec. But you’ve seen the tribes. You’ve felt their power. If we don’t act soon, they’ll destroy everything.”

Alec’s eyes narrowed. “You still haven’t told me everything. You’re hiding something. Why won’t you just give me the truth?”

The woman’s expression faltered for a moment, her eyes flicking to the side. There it was again, that hesitation. Alec wasn’t sure what to make of it. The entire situation felt off.

“We’re not hiding anything from you,” the man said quickly, his voice too smooth, too rehearsed. “We’re just trying to save ourselves... and everyone else. We know what the tribes want. We can stop them. But we need your help. Together, we can keep the relic from falling into the wrong hands.”

Alec’s gaze flicked toward the shadows, where the figures of the tribes still lingered, watching them like predators. Every one of them was waiting for the signal to strike, waiting for the opportune moment. And Alec knew that moment was drawing nearer. He couldn’t afford to trust these people fully, not yet, but he also couldn’t afford to let them walk away. Too much was at risk.

“I still don’t understand,” Alec muttered, his voice low. “Why us? Why bring us into this?”

The man hesitated, and then he finally spoke. “Because you’re the key, Alec. You’ve been marked. You and your friends. The tribes were sent after you for a reason. You’re the one who can activate the relic.”

Alec froze. “Activate the relic.” The words hit him like a ton of bricks. The couple had been playing a deeper game all along. They had known more than they let on, and they had been using him as a pawn in their scheme.

The realization hit him hard, and in that instant, Alec understood. The couple hadn’t been honest. They had manipulated him, and now they expected him to do their dirty work.

He glanced over at Ken, who had been quietly watching from the ridge, his hand still tightly gripping his sword. He could feel Ken’s eyes on him, and he knew that his friend was already reading the situation. It was time to act.

Alec’s hand went to his belt, his fingers brushing the hilt of his own weapon. He wasn’t about to be someone else’s pawn. He’d been used enough, and now it was time for the tables to turn.

Without warning, Alec drew his sword, its blade catching the firelight as he faced the couple. “You’ve played your hand, but I don’t think we’re in the same game anymore.”

The couple exchanged a glance, and for the first time, the woman’s expression seemed to break. “Alec, wait—”

But Alec didn’t wait. With a quick motion, he lunged forward, and the air was filled with the sound of metal clashing as the man raised his own weapon to defend himself. The tribes, sensing the shift in the air, began to move forward, their spears raised.

It was too late for trust. It was too late for words. The final battle had begun.

Alec’s heart raced, the weight of the moment settling on his shoulders like a storm cloud. The air felt thick, heavy, suffocating with tension. Everything had felt wrong since they arrived. The couple, once trusted allies, had slowly begun to reveal their true nature, and Alec could feel the betrayal creeping in like a slow poison.

Ken stood by his side, his face tense, fingers tapping nervously against his sidearm. The others were spread out, their eyes scanning the surroundings, trying to make sense of the chaos that had quickly unfolded around them. They’d been so careful, so calculated in their movements, and yet now they found themselves caught in a trap—a trap that had been waiting for them all along.

The distant hum of technology filled the air as Yusen’s voice crackled through their earpieces. “Alec, Ken… something’s not right. There’s a huge shift in the energy reading—this isn’t the location we were told about. It’s a decoy.”

Alec’s eyes widened, the realization dawning on him like a sudden explosion. He had always trusted the couple, convinced they were on the same side. But now, as the pieces began to fall into place, he understood that their kindness, their offers of help, had always been a calculated play.

The couple had known about the power the relic possessed, how it could shift the balance of power in the world. Alec’s role in all of this was far greater than he’d ever imagined. And now, as he stood on the precipice of an unknown fate, he knew that he had been nothing more than a pawn in their game.

Ken’s voice cut through the silence. “Alec, we need to move. Now.”

Before Alec could respond, the ground beneath them seemed to shift. The sound of distant footsteps echoed through the narrow street, and the air grew cold. Something was coming. And it was far worse than they had anticipated.

Alec’s hand tightened around the relic. He could feel its energy pulsating beneath his skin, an almost electric hum that made his head spin. It was too much to handle, and yet he couldn’t let it go. The relic had become a part of him. And it seemed the couple had known that all along.

Without warning, a figure stepped into view—one of the couple. The woman, her face as cold and calculating as ever, stepped forward, her lips curling into a smile.

“You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you, Alec?” Her voice was sweet, but there was no warmth in it. Only cold, calculated intent. “You’ve been such a good little pawn.”

Alec’s stomach churned as the truth hit him like a wave crashing against the shore. This was all a setup. The couple had never been on his side. They had been using him, guiding him into their trap, and now they were ready to let the other tribes take over. He was the key to unlocking the power they all sought, and once that power was unleashed, there would be no stopping them.

Ken stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his weapon. “What are you talking about? What’s your endgame?”

The woman’s smile widened, and she tilted her head. “You really think you can stop us? You think you’re the ones with control? This power was always meant for us, Alec. And now that you’ve helped us find it, you’re no longer of any use. You’ve served your purpose.”

Alec’s mind raced as he tried to comprehend what was happening. The woman’s words seemed to echo in his mind, each one a cold reminder of his own naivety. They had been lying to him from the beginning. Everything—every word, every gesture, every promise—had been a lie.

Before he could react, the air around him seemed to crackle with energy, and suddenly, the atmosphere was filled with the unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps. There was no time to think. No time to process what had just happened.

Alec’s instincts kicked in, and he grabbed Ken by the arm, pulling him back into the shadows. “We have to go. Now.”

But the woman was already ahead of them. She gestured to the sky, and a signal shot through the air, a beacon that lit up the night. The ground shook beneath their feet as the earth seemed to open up, revealing hidden paths and tunnels that led deep underground.

“Alec,” the woman called, her voice drifting through the air like a whisper. “You’ve already chosen your side. But you won’t be able to escape what’s coming. You’re already too far gone.”

The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, and Alec could see figures beginning to emerge from the shadows. The tribes. All of them. Seven of the ten most powerful tribes had already surrounded them, and now they were moving in, each one an embodiment of their people’s brutal strength and power. Alec knew they weren’t here for a peaceful negotiation. They were here for one thing—control.

Ken’s voice was low but urgent. “Alec, we need to find a way out of this. We’re outnumbered.”

Alec’s mind raced as he tried to think of an escape plan. The tribes were closing in, their faces a mix of anger and greed. They all knew what Alec had, and they were all after it. He could feel the relic pulsing in his hand, and he knew that its power was the key to everything. But right now, that power felt more like a curse.

“Ken, we have to hold them off,” Alec said, his voice grim. “We can’t let them take it.”

Ken nodded, his eyes scanning the crowd. The odds were stacked against them, but they couldn’t give up. Not now. Not when everything was on the line.

The tribes were getting closer. Their eyes were filled with hatred, greed, and a thirst for the power that Alec held. It was clear they weren’t going to let him walk away from this. The woman smiled from a distance, watching as the trap closed in around them.

Alec’s grip tightened on the relic, and he could feel the weight of the decision pressing on him. He had been used, betrayed, and now he had to find a way to fight back. The stakes had never been higher, and it was clear that the only way out was through.

The woman’s voice echoed again, almost as if she were speaking directly to Alec. “You’ve played your part, Alec. Now, let’s see how far you’re willing to go to protect what’s yours.”

Alec’s heart pounded in his chest. The tribes were closing in, and the woman’s words seemed to echo in the air. It was too late to run. He would have to face the consequences of his actions.