CHAPTER 48: 48: THE WORLD IS FULL OF PREDATORS

The shadow rushed them with alarming speed, the hulking figure emerging from the gloom like a nightmare come to life.

Zara forced herself to move, raising the knife in a trembling hand. "Stay back," she said, her voice shaking but firm.

The man barked a laugh, the sound echoing off the crumbling walls. "What’re you gonna do with that, sweetheart? Cut me a flower?"

He lunged. Zara barely had time to register its size before instinct kicked in. She gripped the knife Mia had given her and swung wildly, her inexperience showing in the clumsy arc.

The man caught her wrist effortlessly, his grip iron-like, and with a brutal twist, the knife clattered to the floor. Zara gasped in pain, stumbling back as the man loomed closer.

"Well, aren’t you feisty," he sneered, his voice low and gravelly. His face was a grotesque combination of scars and sneering malice, his crooked teeth yellowed and his eyes glinting with cruelty.

"Thought so," he growled, tossing her aside like a ragdoll. Zara stumbled, catching herself against the wall, her head spinning.

Mia loosed a rock with her slingshot, the projectile zipping through the air and striking the man’s shoulder. He barely flinched.

"Really?" he drawled, turning toward Mia with a slow, deranged grin. "That’s adorable."

"Mia, get back!" Zara shouted, her voice trembling with urgency.

Mia stood her ground, her green eyes blazing with defiance as she loaded another shot.

"Stay away from them!" she yelled, her voice cracking.

Zara’s eyes darted to Kit, who stood frozen, clutching Leo’s scarf tightly. Leo, still half-asleep, stirred on the makeshift bedding in the corner.

"Kit," Zara rasped, panic lacing her tone. "Take Leo. Get out. Now."

Kit hesitated, his wide eyes locked on hers. "But—"

"Go!" Zara shouted, her voice breaking.

Kit snapped into action, scooping up Leo, who was groggily rubbing his eyes. The little boy mumbled in confusion as Kit carried him toward the door, casting one last terrified glance at Zara.

The man’s head snapped toward them, his expression darkening. "Ain’t nobody leavin’," he snarled, starting toward the boys.

"No!" Zara shouted. Her eyes darted frantically around the room, landing on a wooden plank leaning against the wall. She lunged for it, gripping it tightly with both hands.

Mia fired another rock, this one hitting the man’s temple. He snarled, whipping back toward her.

"You’re gonna regret that," he growled, stalking toward her.

Zara didn’t hesitate. As his back turned, she swung the plank with all her strength, the wood connecting with a sickening crack against the back of his head.

The man froze, a low grunt escaping his lips before he crumpled to the ground with a heavy thud.

For a moment, the only sound was Zara’s ragged breathing. She dropped the plank, her hands trembling.

Mia stood motionless, her slingshot dangling limply in her hand. Kit peeked around the doorframe, still clutching Leo, whose sleepy confusion had turned into soft whimpers.

"Is he...?" Mia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zara shook her head. "Just knocked out." Her legs wobbled as she turned toward Kit. "Come on. We need to move. Now."

*****

They hadn’t made it far before they reached a checkpoint—makeshift barriers cobbled together from scrap metal and debris. Zara’s heart sank as she spotted the group of armed men lounging nearby, their weapons gleaming in the fading light.

They were out in the open and there was no place to hide.

At the centre of it, all stood a man who was too clean, too polished for this desolate world. He was lean but muscular, his sharp features framed by dark hair that fell just above his shoulders.

his smile was a predator’s smile—smooth and unsettling.

"Evening," he drawled, his voice rich and warm like honey. "Travelers, are we?"

Zara stepped forward instinctively, shielding the kids behind her. Mia hovered close, her hand resting on Kit’s shoulder.

Zara shifted Leo in her arms, her every nerve on edge. "Just passing through," she said, keeping her voice even.

Raphael’s gaze swept over them, lingering on her for a beat too long. His smile widened.

"And what a sight you are," he said, his tone teasing but heavy with implication. His eyes flicked to Leo, who was clutching Zara’s coat, his face buried in her chest. "A child? Now, that’s rare. Takes something special to keep one alive these days."

Zara’s stomach churned. She forced a tight smile. "We manage."

"I’ll bet you do," Raphael said, his gaze sliding back to her. "You must be... resourceful."

Zara’s jaw tightened. "We don’t want trouble. Just let us pass."

Raphael chuckled, a low, dangerous sound. "Trouble? Who said anything about trouble? I’m just making conversation." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "A group like yours... You’d be useful. Strong. Especially you and maybe this your child." His eyes locked on Zara, and her skin crawled.

Zara’s grip on Leo tightened. "He’s none of your concern."

"Oh, but he is," Raphael said smoothly, his tone dripping with mock admiration. "Keeping a little one alive in this world? You are totally something special."

Mia bristled, stepping closer to Zara. Kit clung to her side, his small frame trembling.

Raphael’s gaze flicked to Mia and Kit, a spark of recognition flitting across his face. He tilted his head, studying them with a calculating smile.

"You’ve got quite the group here," he said, his voice almost lazy. "And you, darling," he added, focusing back on Zara.

Zara squared her shoulders, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I’ll take that as a compliment," she said dryly, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Raphael chuckled, clearly amused. "Feisty. I like that."

"Too bad I’m not interested," Zara shot back, her tone sharp. She didn’t know who this man was but she could tell she wanted no part of him.

His laughter deepened, but there was an edge to it now, a dangerous undertone that made her skin crawl. "You’ve got guts. I’ll give you that."

One of his men leaned in, whispering something in his ear. Raphael’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes flicked to Mia and Kit with renewed interest.

"Interesting," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.

Zara felt a cold knot of fear tighten in her chest. "We’re leaving," she said firmly, taking a step back.

Raphael held up a hand, his smile widening. "Oh, you’ll leave," he said. "But please, go through." He gestured through the checkpoint, basically permitting them to go in. "we’ll meet again, little fox. And next time, I’ll make sure you don’t slip away so easily."

Zara clenched her jaw, turning away before he could see the flicker of fear in her eyes.

"Let’s go," she muttered to Mia, who was pale and stiff beside her.

As they walked away, Raphael called out after them, his voice dripping with mock sweetness. "We’ll meet again, darling. You don’t say no to me for long."

Zara didn’t look back.

As they walked past the men, Zara felt his eyes follow her, burning into her back like a searing brand. She kept her head down, forcing herself to breathe through the tightness in her chest.

*****

When they were a safe distance away, Zara rounded on Mia. "What was that?" she demanded, keeping her voice low so Kit and Leo wouldn’t hear. "You recognized him. I saw it."

Mia avoided her gaze, her shoulders hunched. "It’s nothing," she said flatly.

"Nothing?" Zara repeated, incredulous. "Mia, he knew you. Or at least one of his men did. What aren’t you telling me?"

Mia’s jaw tightened, her green eyes flashing with something unreadable. "I said it’s nothing," she snapped, her voice rising.

Kit flinched at the tone, his small hands clutching Zara’s arm. Zara sighed, softening her voice. "Mia, please. If there’s something we need to know—"

"I said drop it!" Mia hissed, her face pale but her tone fierce.

Zara stared at her, frustration and concern warring within her. But she didn’t push. Not now.

"Fine," she said quietly. "But we need to stay sharp. All of us."

Mia nodded stiffly, her gaze fixed on the ground.

Zara’s fist clenched. Was she being too lenient with Mia? Would this secret of hers come back to haunt them?

They had managed to get past that man so they should be fine now, right?

But deep down, she knew this wasn’t over. The man’s voice echoed in her mind like a dark promise, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that their paths would cross again.

*****

That night, as the camp settled into an uneasy silence, Zara found herself lost in thought. She stared at the fire, trying to make sense of the strange encounter. Who was Raphael, and why did Mia react like that?

She looked over at Leo, who was curled up beside Kit, the two of them asleep in a tangled heap of limbs. A sharp pang of longing hit her.

Finally, she walked to Mia’s side and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Mia... talk to me. If there’s something I need to know..."

Mia hesitated, her lips pressing together in a thin line. She was on the verge of saying something—of confessing—but she stopped herself. Instead, she turned the conversation away. "Why do you want to reach that cache so badly, Zara?"

Zara paused, the question catching her off guard. "For Leo," she said quietly. "I need to give him a future. I want him to have a chance."

Mia didn’t respond, but the shift in her demeanour was noticeable. For a moment, Zara felt like they were both standing on the edge of something—something fragile, something they didn’t want to acknowledge.

She finally turned away, a small frown on her face.

*****

The next morning, Zara woke to find Mia and Kit gone. The warmth of the moment slipped through her fingers, and her heart began to race. What had happened? Where were the kids?