CHAPTER 67

CHAPTER 67
Serena’s POV 

The doorknob clicked shut in my face when I pressed my hand against it. The pounding of my heart against my ribs felt powerful enough to break through them. Just five minutes back, I held complete control with Adrian as my weapon and Damien as my failsafe while Victor’s network was fully under my command. Rain poured down as I stood outside the cabin with the door locked and no access available. My throat tightened with panic while I fought to maintain my balance.

Lightning flashed, illuminating the dark tree line. I understood that Kieran had remotely deactivated the outer lock from within the cabin and was aware of my next action. My nails made a scraping noise against the wet wood as I hammered on the door while shouting, “Let me in!” The only sounds were the rain and thunder in the distance after I shouted for him. I hadn't experienced this level of powerlessness in months until this moment.

I stepped back from the doorway while the rain soaked through my light coat. The wind attacked from all directions, and each burst had the power to knock me off balance. My vision began to spin, and I resisted the impulse to fall to the ground. I had no allies. Victor disappeared after the explosion with no evidence of his whereabouts. Kieran’s family was closing in on me. Evelyn’s voice, still fierce from our standoff, echoed in my mind: Her promise to stop me resounded in my mind while my heart pounded against my ribs.

I took a shaky breath. I still had Damien’s data. The keys controlling Blackfang’s destiny remained in my possession. A diversion would allow me enough time to create an escape route from their pursuit. I examined the surroundings of the trees searching for a path that would lead me around the cabin. All the potential options my mind considered turned out to be unfavourable. The river might be an option, but its strong currents combined with the storm made it a hazardous choice. I might return to the main road, but Kieran’s men are likely waiting for me. Every choice felt like a trap. 

When I turned my head, I almost stumbled into a small clearing. A set of fresh tracks imprinted in the mud caught my attention, which led me to the left side toward a line of broken rocks. My pulse spiked. I moved quickly, following the prints. I was uncertain about who made the tracks, which seemed to belong to either Kieran or Damien. I didn’t care. I needed a distraction. 

Silently,y I moved toward the rocks while my footprints left dark impressions on the sodden grass. The sky above me burst into light while I saw the distant lake. The storm churned the water into choppy waves beneath its dark surface. The hidden boat that Victor kept secret came back to mind from our starting days. The secret boat was my backup plan B, which would serve perfectly if things went wrong. Once I get there, I'll be able to make my escape during the night.

I ran toward the clearing's edge while paying attention to each rustling sound and snapped twig. I heard movement behind me—a soft footstep. I froze, holding my breath. Then I saw him step into view: Victor apprenticed him while I provided his training, and he moved at a slow pace because of his damaged leg. He stared at me, eyes blank. 

“Serena,” he said, voice monotone. “Why run?” 

I swallowed hard, stepping back. He continued to advance although his leg hurt. “You abandoned me.” 

For a short time, I shut my eyes to recall the momentary flicker of understanding in his stare. My heart twisted. “I had to leave,” I said. Saving you,u, together with Adrian and Damien, once was beyond my capabilities.

He cocked his head. “You saved Adrian.” 

That hit me like a punch. In my mind, I tried to reject the truth but found myself unable to. He was right. I had chosen the boy Kieran loved. The outcome of the endgame became defined through that decision. If I confessed the truth, it would break my spirit. “It wasn’t intentional,” I said. “He needed a chance.” 

Water streaming from his mouth, he spat out his disgust. “You always choose.” 

His words burned. I sprinted through dense foliage toward the water's edge. I didn’t look back. I ripped my dress coat loose from the branch while my teeth gritted together. The wind forced my hair across my face while needles seemed to scratch my eyes. As I sped down the slope, a queasy realisation hit me that all routes to safety were disappearing.

At the lake’s edge, I stopped. A tiny boat swayed with the ocean waves while fastened to an oxidised post. As I extended my hand toward the rope, my fingers began to shake. But I was missing the boat key. I patted my pocket—no key. The frenzied escape from the cabin likely caused me to drop the boat key. The chest pressure from fear made breathing feel impossible.

I prayed for a solution. My eyes darted around the shore. I spotted Kieran’s SUV parked at the top of the hill. The SUV's headlights remained active as they projected light into the stormy conditions. Where were they? Kieran’s team should already be after me, but they’re nowhere to be seen. rRealisedEvelyn and Kieran had taken Adrian’s stretcher, and Damien had put it in the van Erin provided. They were on the road. My lead was running out fast. 

The prototype spoke my name from behind me in a gentle voice, yet gave me chills. “Your crimes catch up.” 

I spun around, heart in my throat. He remained near the edge of the woods with an unharmed expression. I believed the storm would hide me from him, but he managed to find my location anyway. “Stay back,” I hissed. 

He took a step toward me. “This place will bury you.” 

My feet plunged into cold water as I took a step back after swallowing hard. The ocean waves washed over my feet while dragging at my footwear. The boat moved up and down beyond my grasp. I knew I had to act. I looked at the prototype. “Why are you here? What do you want?” 

He made his way toward the shore while carefully navigating through the mud with each step. His voice betrayed weariness as he made his well-known declaration: “To see your empire crumble.” Despite his advanced appearance, he lacked any inner substance. “They betrayed you,” he said. “Kieran walked away with your prize. And now everyone knows.” 

I dropped my head. The truth of my downfall hit me like a ton of bricks. The Board members received a report of Serena’s crimes, which included money laundering and illegal experiments alongside paternity fraud, because Kieran forced me to release that data. All the headlines showed my face with words such as monster and criminal. The mockery and outrage on social media platforms erupted into full-scale riots. I had lost control. 

He entered the shallow water as his boots sank into the mud. He pointed at the distant shore. “No one left to save you.” 

Tears blurred my vision. “I never wanted this,” I murmured. “I only wanted greatness.” 

In the water, he knelt as he stared upward at me. His words lingered in the air as he withdrew back into the safety of the trees. “Go.” 

I observed him fade away into the rain while fear thundered inside my mind. Although his trustworthiness eluded me, his statement remained accurate. I had no allies left. The authorities would find me regardless of escaping on that boat. Cameras on the highway monitored every exit. The safe house Erin offered was compromised. K-9 units searched the forest area under Kieran's orders. I had nowhere to run. 

The wind tore at my clothes. My hands trembled severely until I accidentally dropped my phone into the mud. The screen cracked. I attempted to reach my hidden contacts through my private line, but the call failed to connect. A scream seemed to rise from my chest. I was trapped. 

Suddenly, a car door slammed behind me. As I spun around, my eyes spotted Kieran emerging from the dark shadows. He held a gun, his face grim. “Stay where you are,” he said. 

I pressed my back against the boat. Beneath the storm, my voice barely reached out to him. “I know you have to hate me.” “But please—” 

“Don’t.” His voice cut me off. “We don’t have time to talk philosophy. You’ve done enough damage. You will face the consequences for your actions.” He shifted the gun up slightly. “Get in this lake? I’ll shoot.” 

I swallowed, staring at the barrel. “Fine,” I said. I decided to face the consequences as I closed my eyes to ready myself for the result.

“Kieran,” Evelyn’s voice called through the wind. Adrian's head lay on Evelyn's shoulder while she stood on the cliff edge. “What are you doing?” 

His gaze rose toward Evely, but he remained firm with his gun aimed.

Evelyn continued, voice desperate. Evelyn stated that she would take whatever actions were necessary.

My heart pounded. “Evelyn,” I said, voice steadier. If I return now, he can stop killing me. He can stop chasing me.” 

Kieran's eyes moved from me to Evelyn in quick succession. Her gaze was fierce. “She’s right.” 

He lowered the gun just a hair. “Get in the boat. Move.” 

Relief and dread warred inside me. I entered the boat at a slow pace while mud splashed against my legs. Kieran cut the rope without a word. The wind directed every wave as the boat moved backwards into the darkness. Evelyn watched, tears streaming. Adrian opened his eyes for a moment to witness my departure. My heart broke. 

The engine wouldn’t start—Kieran had disabled it. A broken oar was the only one present in the boat. Triton—my old plan—was gone. I remained trapped as I slowly moved toward the lake without any control. The shoreline receded. Kieran and Evelyn shrank to shadows. 

My chest tightened. I pounded the seat of the boat. “This can’t be it!” I screamed. But no one heard me. The storm consumed my voice. 

The cliffside lights started blinking above me. Police floodlights. Headlamps on K-9 units. The sound of trained hounds barking reached me across the lake's surface. Fear ripped through me like a blade. 

With desperation, I grasped for the lone oar before thrusting it into the water. It broke under my weight. I fell to the boat’s bottom deck and entered the icy water with a splash. The cold wrapped around me like chains. I rushed to grab the broken end of the oar. My fingers grabbed onto a jagged wooden fragment.

Police voices drifted across the water. “Search the shoreline!” “She must still be close to the boat!”

My lungs burned. The boat moved towards the middle of the lake while the searchers stayed behind. I held onto the oar, knuckles white. The wind screamed across the lake as rain obscured my sight while Kieran's deathbed prediction haunted me: She’ll answer for it.

The distant cliff lights caught my gaze before I lifted my head. The prototype remained isolated along the edge while he watched me depart. He didn’t move. His presence acted as a living shadow that kept reminding me of the chaos which I caused.

My heart pounded, and I realised one thing: I would never have safety. Never again. My crimes had caught up. I floated through the turbulent lake as nothing more than a ghost.

And behind me, the lights came closer. Sirens howled. My hands held the oar tightly as I prepared to row further into the water depths. If necessary, I would disappear by sinking underwater.

Before I could begin to move my feet, the sudden flash from a strong flashlight beam hit my eyes. It didn’t come from the cliff. The light originated from the lake's edge, where I noticed an unfamiliar island.

I blinked. 

And for one heartbeat, I felt hope. 

Then I realised how far I’d drifted. 

The island’s lights grew brighter. 

I swallowed hard. 

And I remembered the legend. 

No one escaped the island. 

I allowed the boat to passively float into the darkness.

In certain situations, survival requires yielding to the storm’s power.

Behind me, sirens. 

Ahead of me, the island. 

Between them, a choice: surrender or vanish. 

Rain smacked against my face while I guided the boat to reach the distant shore.

Amidst the surrounding darkness, I heard Evelyn’s voice whisper to me, “We’ll find you.”

Currently, my main task is locating the island.

And pray it didn’t bury me alive.