Chapter 7: Shadow Stalkers

Shadow Stalkers

Night fell quickly, casting the camp into darkness, with only a few dim lanterns providing scattered pockets of light. The air was thick with tension, every sound amplified by the eerie stillness. Alex sat with her back against one of the crumbling walls of the camp's main building, her eyes flicking nervously between the shadowy treeline and the people around her.

The rival faction was out there somewhere. Ethan had set up a perimeter, but it wasn't enough to put anyone at ease. The knowledge that Jenna, someone Alex once trusted, was among the attackers gnawed at her insides like a poison. Betrayal stung sharper than fear.

"They'll strike soon," Ethan muttered, crouching beside her. His face was drawn tight with focus, the usual warmth in his eyes replaced with steely resolve. "We need to be ready."

Alex nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. This was it. She had to prove herself. She wasn't just another survivor; she had skills. Tactics. A mind that worked under pressure. If she failed now, all the small steps she'd taken toward earning the group's trust would mean nothing.

"How do you think they'll attack?" Alex asked, forcing herself to think clearly. She needed to focus on the facts, not the fear. Jenna wasn't the same person anymore. None of them were.

Ethan stared out into the night, his jaw clenched. "They'll use the darkness, try to slip in quietly and take us out before we even know what's happening."

"They'll go for the weakest points first," Alex said, her voice steadying as she formulated a plan. "Flank us. Hit where we're not expecting it. If we can predict where they'll strike, we can force them into a trap."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, considering her words. "A trap?"

"Yes," Alex said, gaining confidence. "We pull our people in, make the camp look vulnerable. Then, when they think they've got the upper hand, we hit them hard. But we need to make it believable."

Ethan studied her for a moment, then gave a curt nod. "You've got a mind for this. All right, let's do it. I'll get everyone in position."

As Ethan moved to brief the others, Alex's mind raced. She mapped out the camp in her head, pinpointing their strongest and weakest points. The storage shed near the eastern fence was the obvious weak spot. It wasn't well-guarded, and the structure was in poor condition, barely holding together. If she were the enemy, that's where she'd strike.

She quickly relayed her thoughts to the rest of the group. "We'll make it look like the storage shed is vulnerable," she explained. "Leave it lightly guarded. Once they're inside, we block off their escape routes and take them out."

Hannah frowned, skepticism in her eyes. "You really think they'll fall for that?"

Alex met her gaze, unflinching. "If they're desperate enough to attack us, they'll take any opportunity they see."

"Or they'll figure out it's a trap and wipe us out," Reed added dryly, his usual tone of cynicism not helping ease the tension.

"They won't," Alex insisted. "They won't have time to think that far ahead. We make sure we act quickly and precisely."

There was a moment of silence as the group processed her words. Reed's lips curled into a smirk, but there was something in his eyes—something like grudging respect. "Fine. I'll play along."

Ethan returned, nodding at Alex. "Everyone's in position. Now we wait."

The minutes stretched into an agonizing eternity. Alex's pulse thudded in her ears as she crouched behind a pile of debris, her grip tight around her weapon. Every rustle of the wind, every creak of the trees, sent her nerves on edge.

Then, there was movement.

Shadows shifted in the distance, creeping closer to the storage shed. Alex's breath caught in her throat as she counted five figures, moving silently through the underbrush. Jenna was leading them, her hood pulled low over her face, but Alex recognized the way she moved—cautious, calculated.

"They're here," Alex whispered to Ethan, who was beside her, hidden in the shadows.

"Wait for it," Ethan murmured, his eyes never leaving the intruders.

The rival faction crept toward the shed, their figures barely distinguishable in the dim light. Alex's heart hammered in her chest as they slipped through the broken doorway. This was it.

Ethan gave the signal—a low whistle that cut through the night air.

In an instant, chaos erupted. The survivors burst from their hiding spots, weapons drawn, blocking off the exits. The enemy faction spun around, surprised, but they were too late. Alex rushed forward with the others, her body moving on instinct. Her mind was clear, her focus sharp.

Jenna locked eyes with her, recognition flashing across her face. "Alex?"

But there was no time for hesitation. Alex swung her weapon, aiming for Jenna's arm to disarm her. Jenna dodged, but not fast enough. The blunt end of Alex's staff caught her shoulder, and Jenna stumbled back, cursing under her breath.

Around them, the camp exploded into a flurry of violence. Ethan led the charge, his knife flashing in the dim light as he took down one of the rival members with brutal efficiency. Reed fought with a savage grace, his cynicism replaced by deadly precision. Hannah and Lucas held their own, keeping the remaining intruders at bay.

Alex's heart raced as she squared off with Jenna, the weight of their shared past pressing down on her. "Why are you doing this?" she demanded, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and betrayal.

Jenna's eyes hardened. "Survival. You of all people should understand that."

"This isn't survival. It's murder," Alex spat, circling her former friend.

"And what do you think you're doing here?" Jenna shot back. "You're just as ruthless as we are."

Alex hesitated for a split second, the truth of Jenna's words hitting harder than she expected. Was she just like them? Had she crossed that line already? But there was no time to dwell on it. The fight wasn't over.

Jenna lunged at her, but Alex was faster this time. She ducked under Jenna's swing and delivered a swift blow to her gut, knocking the wind out of her. Jenna collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, and Alex stood over her, her weapon raised.

"Do it," Jenna taunted, her voice raspy. "Finish it."

For a moment, Alex froze, the weight of the decision crushing her. She could end this now. One strike, and Jenna would be gone. But as she stared down at the girl who had once been her friend, something inside her shifted. She wasn't like them. She couldn't be.

"No," Alex whispered, lowering her weapon. "I'm not you."

Before Jenna could respond, the others arrived, surrounding her. Ethan stepped forward, his expression unreadable as he looked between Alex and Jenna. "What are we doing with her?"

Alex's breath came in ragged gasps as she met Ethan's gaze. "We keep her alive. She could have information we need."

Ethan nodded slowly, his eyes softening with something like approval. "Good call."

The fight ended as quickly as it had begun. The remaining members of the rival faction either surrendered or were subdued. Alex felt the tension drain from her body as the adrenaline ebbed away, leaving her shaky and exhausted.

As the group regrouped, Ethan pulled Alex aside. "You did good back there," he said, his voice low but firm. "You kept your head. That's not easy in a situation like this."

Alex looked up at him, surprised by the praise. "I just did what I had to."

Ethan's lips quirked into a small smile. "You did more than that. You saved lives."

For the first time since joining the group, Alex felt a flicker of something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in a long time—pride. Maybe, just maybe, she was starting to earn her place here after all.