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Aria’s Pov  

“Who are you?” I shouted again, my voice was strained and I was feeling so much pain inside me. The rain lashed against my skin, and the thunder roared overhead, but there was no answer.  

The forest around us seemed to close in, the shadows deepened by the thundering lightning. 

My heart pounded, and I tightened my grip on valerian. Whoever had called out to us clearly didn’t want to be seen, and I couldn’t afford to waste any more time.  

“We’re leaving,” I whispered to Valerian. He nodded weakly, his little body trembling against mine.  

We kept moving, weaving through the tangled trees and a ground filled with mud. Each step was a struggle, the storm’s fury was unrelenting.  

“Mommy,” Valerian whined, he sounded so tired. “I can’t walk anymore. My legs hurt.”  

I stopped and knelt down, brushing his damp hair back. “I know, sweetheart,” I said gently, trying to hide my panic. “But we have to keep going. We can’t stop now.”  

His eyes were filled with tears, and my resolve faltered. I sighed and looked around, the storm offering no reprieve. “Alright, five minutes,” I said softly. “But just five.”  

I crouched down beside him, pulling him close to shield him from the rain. The thunder crashed above us, so loud it seemed to shake the ground beneath our feet.   
When our short break was up, I stood and crouched, letting Valerian climb onto my back. “Hold on tight,” I told him, securing his small arms around my neck.  

With him on my back, I pushed forward, searching for any sign of shelter. Every path looked the same, and the washed out terrain offered no guidance. The storm blurred everything, turning the forest into a confusing maze.  

After what felt like an eternity, I spotted a small overhang formed by a cluster of rocks. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.  

I slid down under the rocks and placed Valerian carefully on the ground. His eyes fluttered closed almost instantly, his exhaustion overcoming him.  

I leaned back against the damp stone, my mind was filled with wild thoughts. “What do I do now?” I didn’t recognize anything around me, and every direction felt like it led deeper into the unknown.  It all seemed confusing and I couldn't get back on what to do next.

The sound of Valerian’s soft breathing was the only thing keeping me calm. I brushed a hand over his hair, my thoughts spiraling. “Connor… where are you?”

Just as I began to drift into my own exhausted haze, a rustling noise jerked me awake. My heart leaped into my throat, and I froze, pulling Valerian closer.  

Peeking out from under the overhang, I saw a figure moving through the trees. At first, I couldn’t make out who it was, but as he moved closer, I got a clearer view. 

It was one of Noah’s men. I couldn't tell how he got there or what he was doing there. 

He looked battered and worn, his clothes torn and muddied. His eyes darted nervously around the forest, as though he expected an ambush.  

I swallowed my fear and stepped out cautiously, holding Valerian against me. “Please,” I called out, my voice trembling. “Help us.”  With a mind full of hope, I called for his help. 

The man turned sharply, his eyes narrowing. For a moment, I thought he might attack, but instead, he nodded. “Come on,” he said gruffly. “I’ll help you. Let's walk through that road and we'll be out of here”  

He led us through the forest, his steps were quick and intentional. I followed closely, relief starting to replace the fear in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, we would find a way out of this nightmare.  

But as the darkness began to lift, my hope was shattered.  

We emerged into a clearing, and my heart sank. We were back in Noah’s territory. 

“What!?” 

The remains of his base loomed in the distance, and despite the destruction, a small dormitory stood intact, its structure mocked my efforts to escape.  

“No,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “No, no, no!”  

Before I could react, Noah stepped out from the corner, flanked by two of his men. His cold smile sent chills down my spine.  

“Well, well,” he drawled. “Look who came crawling back.”  

I turned to the man who had led us here, betrayal tightening in my chest. But before I could say anything, Noah pulled a dagger from his belt and stabbed the man in the chest without hesitation.  

The man gasped, blood spilling from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground.  

“No!” I screamed, clutching Valerian tightly.  

Noah’s smile widened as he wiped the blade on his sleeve. “You’re not very good at picking allies, are you?”  

“You monster!” I spat, tears streaming down my face.  

He chuckled darkly. “Monster? Oh, Aria. You haven’t seen anything yet.”  

He stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Your powers are impressive,” he said mockingly. “But look where they got you. Right back here. And Connor? Where is your hero now? You're powerless and reckless”  

I glared at him, my body trembling with anger and fear. “Connor will come,” I said through clenched teeth.  

“Oh, I doubt that,” he said, laughing. “You’re nothing to him, Aria. Just a distraction. Didn't you see it? He's not going to show up”  

My fists clenched, and I felt the familiar surge of power coursing through me. The storm outside seemed to respond to my rage, the thunder growing louder and the winds picking up.  

Noah noticed the shift, his smirk faltering slightly. “Careful, Aria,” he warned. “You don’t want to make things worse for yourself. Trust me, we could work things out, and I'll make you mine. I accept Valerian, he could help with fighting his dad. I'm so sure he'd be annoyed to know his father couldn't come save him because he's busy with his concubine”  

“I still don't believe you! And I promise to make you see hell and reciprocate what you're doing to us” I lamented so badly in anger. I wouldn't be a slave to a slave himself.