Chapter 35: The Enemy Within

Chapter 35: The Enemy Within

The weight of silence hung heavy in the camp as Alex retreated to her corner of the ruins, her mind reeling from Ryan's challenge. Her body ached from the bruises and cuts she hadn't even noticed in the chaos, but none of that mattered. What mattered was the fracture that had opened up within her group—within her own sense of purpose.

She had thought things couldn't get worse, that returning to the ashes of their camp was the lowest point. But the tension between her and Ethan, simmering beneath the surface for weeks, was about to boil over.

She felt it like a crack in a dam, ready to burst.

Ethan had been distant since they returned, his sharp blue eyes watching her from the edges of the camp, always lurking but never approaching. The weight of his gaze pressed on her back like a blade waiting to cut. She knew what was coming, and yet, when the moment arrived, it still hit like a sucker punch.

Ethan's footsteps crunched behind her. She didn't turn.

"Alex," he began, his voice low and controlled, as though trying to keep the storm inside from breaking free. "We need to talk."

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the broken table she leaned on. The last thing she wanted was another confrontation. Not now. But she didn't have the luxury of avoidance.

"About what?" she asked flatly, not moving.

He didn't respond immediately. She heard him take a deep breath before stepping closer, his presence looming just behind her. She felt it—his hesitation, his guilt.

She whirled on him, eyes blazing. "Say it."

Ethan recoiled slightly, but his face remained hard, jaw clenched. "I should have told you sooner."

Her stomach dropped. She crossed her arms, masking the surge of anxiety. "Told me what?"

He stepped forward, his eyes searching hers, but she saw something there—something he was still holding back. "About the Dominion. About the fact that they're bigger than just Gabriel's faction."

Her heart skipped a beat. The Dominion. She had known they were organized, dangerous, but if Ethan knew something else—something more—and had kept it from her, then—

Her blood turned to ice. "You knew?" Her voice rose, disbelief and fury lacing each word. "And you didn't tell me?"

"I was trying to protect you, Alex," Ethan shot back, his tone edging into desperation. "You had enough on your plate. I didn't want to overwhelm you with more."

"More?" She laughed, but it was hollow and bitter. "You mean more like finding out we were walking into a trap? More like the fact that we weren't just fighting Gabriel's faction, but something much bigger?"

Ethan's mouth opened, but nothing came out. Alex's fists trembled at her sides, her pulse racing in her ears. She had trusted him. Despite everything, despite their differences, she had trusted him to have her back, and he had lied.

"You've been keeping this from me for how long?" she demanded.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, his own frustration leaking through. "Since before we hit Gabriel's camp."

Her blood froze. That had been days ago—weeks. He had known. He had known, and yet they had gone into battle, lost people, fought for their lives without knowing the full scope of the enemy they faced.

"I can't believe this," she whispered, her voice shaking. "How could you? How could you let us walk into this blind?"

"I thought I was doing the right thing!" Ethan's voice cracked, his frustration bubbling over. "I thought if I told you, it would make things worse. You're always carrying everything, Alex. Every burden. I was trying to take one of them off your shoulders."

His words didn't soothe the rage building inside her. If anything, they made it worse. She stepped toward him, her fists clenched.

"Do I look like someone who needs protecting?" she hissed, her eyes blazing. "I don't need you to take my burdens, Ethan. I need you to tell me the fucking truth!"

Ethan flinched at her words, but he stood his ground. "I wasn't trying to undermine you. I was trying to protect you."

"Protect me from what?" She gestured around them, her voice raw. "From this? Because guess what? Now we're fucked, and I didn't even get the chance to prepare for it."

There was a long, heavy silence between them. The only sound was the crackling of the distant fire, barely burning. Ethan's face was hard, but Alex saw the cracks forming. He was trying to hide it, but he was falling apart too.

But that didn't make it better. It didn't make the betrayal sting any less.

"I can't believe I ever trusted you," she spat, turning on her heel and walking away.

Alex didn't know where she was going. She just needed to be away from him, away from the chaos and the ruin that surrounded her. Her mind raced, flashing through every moment with Ethan—every glance, every decision. How many other secrets had he kept from her? How many other lies had he hidden behind that stoic, determined mask?

She needed space. She needed clarity. But most of all, she needed to not feel like the world was collapsing in on her.

She found herself by the river, the sound of rushing water soothing the storm in her mind. The night was falling, the shadows growing long, and the cold crept in as the sun disappeared beyond the trees. She stood there, staring at the water, her thoughts swirling in time with the current.

Gabriel was gone, killed in the chaotic final battle. But now, with the Dominion still looming, there was a dangerous void. And yet, something gnawed at her—like there was unfinished business tied to Gabriel's legacy, something that had yet to reveal itself.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her, and her body tensed. She didn't need to look to know who it was.

Lina.

Gabriel's most loyal follower. She had escaped after the battle, but Alex had suspected she was lingering, waiting for her chance to strike or make some desperate move.

Alex's hand slowly drifted to the knife on her belt as she turned, her eyes locking onto Lina's shadowy figure stepping from the trees. The woman's eyes gleamed with anger, grief, and something else—something unhinged.

"Thought you could run?" Lina's voice was sharp, like a blade ready to slice through Alex's resolve. "You may have killed him, but you haven't won."

Alex gripped her knife tighter but stood her ground. "Gabriel was a monster. He deserved what he got. And if you want to go the same way, keep coming closer."

Lina laughed—a cold, manic sound that echoed in the stillness of the night. She took another step forward, her own blade glinting in her hand.

"Gabriel wasn't working alone," she spat, eyes wild. "You think taking him down changes anything? You think you're safe now?"

Alex's heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her face neutral, refusing to show any fear. "What are you talking about?"

Lina's smile widened, her eyes glowing with deranged satisfaction. "There are bigger things coming, Alex. Gabriel's death was just the beginning."

Alex's mind raced. Was this just empty taunting, or did Lina know something real—something that could threaten them all? Her grip tightened on the hilt of her knife as she prepared for whatever Lina was planning.

"Then tell me," Alex said, her voice steady. "Tell me what's coming."

Lina's grin only widened as she lunged forward without warning, her blade aimed straight for Alex's throat.

The world seemed to slow as Lina's blade flashed in the moonlight. Alex's instincts kicked in, and she sidestepped the attack, her own knife slicing through the air to catch Lina's arm. Blood splattered across the ground as Lina screamed in rage, spinning to swipe at Alex again.

The two women circled each other, their breaths coming fast, the tension crackling between them like a live wire. Lina's eyes burned with fury, but Alex's gaze was colder, more calculated. She had fought her way through worse than this, and she wasn't going to let some fanatic take her down now.

Lina lunged again, and this time, Alex was ready. She ducked under the swing, driving her shoulder into Lina's chest and knocking her off balance. Lina stumbled, but recovered quickly, slashing wildly with her knife.

Alex caught the blade with her own, the clang of metal ringing through the night. For a moment, they were locked together, their faces inches apart, hatred burning between them.

"You're not going to win," Lina snarled, spittle flying from her lips.

"I already have," Alex shot back, shoving Lina off and sending her sprawling to the ground.

Lina's eyes widened in shock as Alex loomed over her, her knife raised. But before she could strike the final blow, Lina lashed out, kicking Alex's legs out from under her.

Alex hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of her. Lina scrambled to her feet, raising her knife for the kill. But Alex rolled to the side just in time, the blade slamming into the earth where her chest had been a second earlier.

The two women fought viciously, each trying to outmaneuver the other. But as the fight wore on, Alex could see Lina's movements becoming more erratic, more desperate. She was running out of steam.

With a final, brutal strike, Alex knocked the knife from Lina's hand and slammed her to the ground. She straddled her, holding her knife to Lina's throat.

"It's over," Alex panted, her voice cold and final. "Gabriel's dead. You've lost."

Lina's eyes blazed with defiance, but she didn't fight back. Not anymore.