The forest around them grew denser as they moved forward, the trees pressing in from all sides.
The faint rustle of leaves and the sound of their own footsteps were the only sounds breaking the stillness.
Ada kept her focus sharp, eyes scanning the shadows that danced beneath the canopy.
Every crack of a twig, every shifting shadow, made her muscles tense, her senses heightened.
They were being followed—she knew it, and the unsettling feeling in her chest confirmed it.
Beside her, Vega's movements were more fluid, almost graceful.
She moved with a confidence that Ada couldn't help but admire.
They had fought together before, survived together, but this... this felt different.
There was something lurking in the air that neither of them could quite define.
Vega turned her head slightly, catching Ada's eye. "You feel it too, don't you?" she asked, her voice low, almost a whisper.
Ada didn't respond immediately. Instead, she focused on their surroundings, looking for any sign of movement, any indication that they weren't alone.
But the forest seemed silent, too silent.
It was as if the world itself held its breath.
"I feel it," Ada replied finally, her voice tight. "We're being watched. But by who? I don't know yet."
They continued walking, the weight of the unknown hanging over them like a shadow.
The man they had helped earlier—his face was still fresh in their minds, his desperate plea for help echoing in their thoughts.
But something about his story didn't sit right with Ada.
His fear had been genuine, but it had felt too convenient, too... perfect.
She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than he was letting on.
And then, as if on cue, the rustling grew louder, closer.
Ada's grip on her weapon tightened, and she glanced at Vega.
Without a word, they moved in unison, slipping into the shadows as if they were part of the forest itself.
Every step was calculated, each movement deliberate.
They weren't just hunting their surroundings; they were being hunted as well.
A figure appeared through the trees—tall, imposing, and cloaked in shadow.
It was a man, but unlike the one they had met earlier.
This one moved with a purpose, his posture rigid, his eyes scanning the ground as if looking for something... or someone.
Ada's heart skipped a beat.
She recognized him instantly—the old government's enforcer, the one who had been responsible for hunting survivors in this region.
His presence here wasn't a coincidence.
He was after them, and he had found them.
Vega's hand brushed Ada's arm, a silent signal.
Ada nodded imperceptibly.
They had to act fast, before the enforcer could alert others.
There was no time to waste.
"Stay low," Ada whispered, her voice barely audible. "We wait until he's past us. Then we move."
Vega didn't argue.
She simply nodded, her eyes focused on the man as he walked closer, oblivious to the two women hiding in the underbrush.
Ada could feel the tension between them, the silent understanding that this was a moment of life or death.
One wrong move, one mistake, and it could all end here.
The enforcer passed by them, just a few feet away.
Ada could hear the soft rustle of his boots on the forest floor, the faint sound of his breath.
It felt like the entire world had stopped, like the air itself had frozen in place.
But Ada didn't move.
Not yet.
They waited until he was a few yards ahead, then slowly, carefully, began to follow him.
It was a dangerous game, but it was the only option they had.
They needed answers, and they were willing to risk everything to get them.
Vega was close behind, her movements as silent as Ada's.
She was always there when Ada needed her, and this time was no different.
As they crept closer, Ada could see the enforcer's weapon slung across his back, a rifle that was far too heavy for someone to carry casually.
This man wasn't just an enforcer—he was a soldier, one who had seen countless battles, one who knew how to survive in this world of chaos.
"Keep your distance," Ada murmured. "If we get too close, he'll hear us."
Vega didn't reply, but Ada knew she understood.
They were both used to being in situations where silence was a matter of life and death.
They had learned to move as one, anticipating each other's actions, reading the slightest change in posture or expression.
As the enforcer reached a small clearing, Ada and Vega stopped.
The man was now in full view, and Ada could see the way he was scanning the surroundings—methodical, precise. It was clear he wasn't just patrolling.
He was looking for something, or someone.
The hairs on the back of Ada's neck stood up.
This wasn't just a routine sweep.
This was a search for them.
She glanced at Vega, who was crouched beside her, her face set in a hard line. "We need to move. Now."
Without waiting for a response, Ada moved quickly, using the trees as cover to slip around the clearing.
Vega followed, her movements fluid and quiet.
They knew the forest better than anyone, and they used it to their advantage, staying low and out of sight.
But just as they were about to reach the edge of the clearing, a loud crack echoed through the forest—a twig breaking underfoot.
The enforcer whirled around, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. He had heard it. And he was coming their way.
"Run!" Ada hissed, pushing Vega forward. "Go!"
They sprinted through the underbrush, their breath coming in ragged gasps as they darted between trees, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the dense foliage.
Ada's heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her focus sharp.
They couldn't afford to be caught.
Not now, not when they were so close to the truth.
Behind them, the enforcer's footsteps grew louder, closer.
He wasn't giving up, and Ada knew they couldn't keep running forever.
"Just a little further," Ada urged, her voice strained.
Vega was right behind her, her face flushed but determined. "We'll make it," she said, though her voice lacked the usual certainty.
Suddenly, the sound of a gunshot rang out, the sharp crack of a bullet ripping through the air.
Ada ducked instinctively, but it wasn't aimed at her.
It was aimed at something else—something she couldn't see.
And then, the forest erupted into chaos.