Chapter 107
Apr 2, 2025
The rhythmic clatter of the train wheels was the only sound in the dimly lit car. Celestina and Dimitri exchanged tense glances as the man they’d identified as one of Alvada’s former bodyguards sat a few rows away, his posture too casual to be natural.
“I’ll handle this,” Dimitri murmured, rising slowly.
“Be careful,” Celestina whispered, gripping his hand for a moment before letting him go.
Dimitri walked down the aisle, his steps deliberate, and stopped beside the man’s seat. “You’ve been following us,” he said, his voice low and firm.
The man looked up, his face impassive. “If I wanted to harm you, I would’ve done it by now.”
“That’s not an answer,” Dimitri snapped, his hand resting on the concealed weapon at his side.
The man sighed and leaned back. “My name is Rian. I used to work for your father, but I don’t anymore. I’ve defected.”
Celestina leaned forward from her seat, her heart pounding. “Why would we believe that?”
Rian’s gaze shifted to her. “Because I’ve seen what he’s done. What he’s planning to do. I couldn’t be part of it anymore.”
Dimitri narrowed his eyes. “So you’re here to help us? That’s convenient.”
Rian smirked faintly. “Believe what you want. But if you’re headed to the capital, you’re walking into a trap. Alvada knows you’re coming.”
Before Celestina or Dimitri could question him further, the train jolted to a sudden stop. The screech of brakes echoed through the car, and passengers began murmuring nervously.
Dimitri peered out the window, his stomach sinking as he saw armed men swarming the train.
“Alvada’s agents,” he muttered, grabbing Celestina’s arm.
“We have to go,” she whispered, panic rising in her voice.
Rian stood, his expression grim. “There’s a maintenance hatch at the back of the train. It leads to the tracks. You’ll have a chance if you move now.”
Dimitri hesitated, his mistrust of Rian evident, but there was no time to argue. “Fine. Let’s go.”
The three of them moved quickly, weaving through the train cars as the sound of boots echoed closer.
“Over here,” Rian said, pulling open the hatch and gesturing for them to climb down.
Dimitri went first, helping Celestina down before following her. Rian slipped through last, pulling the hatch closed behind him.
As they crouched beside the train tracks, Celestina’s pulse thundered in her ears. “Where do we go now?”
“This way,” Rian said, pointing toward a wooded area. “It’ll buy us time.”
Dimitri gave him a sharp look but nodded. “Move fast.”
By the time they stopped, the train and its agents were far behind them. Celestina leaned against a tree, catching her breath.
“That was too close,” she said, her voice trembling.
Dimitri nodded, his hand still on his weapon. “We can’t afford any more surprises.”
Rian crossed his arms, his tone defensive. “If it weren’t for me, you’d be in their custody by now.”
“Or this could all be part of your plan,” Dimitri shot back.
“Stop it,” Celestina interjected, her frustration boiling over. “We don’t have time for this. If Rian’s right about the trap in the capital, we need to figure out what to do next.”
Later, as they settled into a small, abandoned cabin in the woods for the night, Celestina rummaged through her bag. Her fingers brushed against something unfamiliar—a small slip of paper tucked inside.
She unfolded it, her heart sinking as she read the words scrawled in hurried handwriting:
“The trap is bigger than you think. Trust no one, not even those closest to you.”
Her breath caught, and she quickly tucked the note back into her bag.
“Everything okay?” Dimitri asked, his voice cutting through her thoughts.
She hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. Just… tired.”
But as she lay down that night, the message played over and over in her mind. Who had left it? And what did they mean by “those closest to you”?
The next morning, the tension between Dimitri and Rian was palpable. Dimitri kept throwing suspicious glances at their new companion, while Rian seemed equally irritated by the lack of trust.
“Are you always this paranoid?” Rian asked as they walked through a narrow trail.
Dimitri’s jaw tightened. “When it comes to keeping her safe? Yes.”
Celestina stepped between them, her tone firm. “Enough, both of you. We’re all on edge, but fighting each other isn’t going to help.”
Rian smirked. “Fair enough. But maybe he should focus less on me and more on the danger ahead.”
By midday, the outskirts of the capital came into view. Celestina’s heart raced as she recognized the familiar skyline, though it was shrouded in smoke and haze.
“We’re almost there,” she said quietly.
But before they could take another step, a deafening explosion rocked the ground beneath them. The force sent Celestina sprawling, her ears ringing as a cloud of debris filled the air.
“Celestina!” Dimitri’s voice cut through the chaos as he pulled her to her feet.
“I’m okay,” she said, though her knees wobbled. “What was that?”
Rian pointed toward the road ahead, now engulfed in flames. “It’s a blockade. They must’ve known we’d take this route.”
