A Perilous Bargain

The air outside was cold, but Selene barely felt it. The moment she, Axel, and Caleb stumbled out of the tunnel, her pulse spiked as the open sky stretched above them with a stark contrast to the suffocating darkness they had just escaped but there was no relief, no time to breathe because standing before them, waiting like a predator poised to strike, was Lucian. His presence was unmistakable, his stance was calm, yet imposing and his eyes, sharp as knives, scanned them with amusement, he wasn't alone, beside him were a dozen men with their weapons read and their expressions unreadable like they had been waiting and expecting the moment. Selene's grip tightened around Axel, her body tensing. Caleb, despite his wound, shifted beside her, his breathing heavy. Lucian's smirk widened. 'You look terrible, Selene, running doesn't suit you."Selene clenched her jaw. 'Neither does gloating." Lucian chuckled, stepping forward, the glow from the streetlamps was casting shadows across his face. 'Oh, but I've earned it." His eyes flicked to Axel, who was barely standing. 'You, on the other hand, seem to be running out of time."Selene felt the weight of his words. Axel's condition was worsening as his body had grown heavier against her and his breaths were shallower, they had spent so much time running, and fighting, but for what? They had no allies left, no weapons, and nowhere to go and Lucian knew it. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay composed. 'Let us go." But Lucian raised an eyebrow. 'Let you go? After everything you've done? That's a bold request." Caleb, leaning against the wall for support, exhaled sharply. 'Then what do you want?" Lucian tilted his head slightly as if considering. 'It's simple, you come with me willingly and I let Axel live." Selene's heart stopped as the weight of the moment crushed down on her, squeezing her chest like a vice, she knew Lucian too well, he didn't make empty promises but he also never played fair. Axel stirred weakly beside her. 'Selene… no."Her grip on him tightened, now he barely had the strength to speak, yet he was still fighting, still trying to protect her even when he was the one dying. She turned back to Lucian, her mind racing. 'And if I refuse?"Lucian sighed, as if bored. 'Then I kill him right here, right now." Selene's stomach twisted as the cold certainty in his voice left no room for doubt, he would do it without hesitation and without regret. She gritted her teeth. 'You're bluffing." Lucian smiled, reaching into his coat in one smooth motion, he pulled out a gun and aimed it at Axel's head, Selene's blood ran cold immediately. Her fingers were dug into Axel's arm while her body was frozen in place, she couldn't move or breathe. Lucian's finger hovered over the trigger, his expression was unreadable. 'Last chance, Selene, choose now." The world felt smaller in that moment but tighter and the weight of her choice crushing down on her. She couldn't let Axel die, not after everything they had gone through but surrendering to Lucian and walking willingly into whatever trap he had planned. She met Lucian's gaze with her pulse pounding in her ears. 'You let them both go. Axel and Caleb, they walk away free."Lucian hummed, a sign of consideration. 'Hmm, that's tempting but no, the deal is Axel, take it or leave it." Selene's mind screamed at the unfairness. Caleb shifted beside her, his voice low. 'Selene. Don't." But what choice did she have? Her throat tightened and she felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff, with no good options then a loud bang came in and shattered the night and before Selene could process what had happened, Axel collapsed. She screamed but her hands caught him just before he hit the ground, her heart lurching as she saw the blood. It was a gunshot wound right through his side. Lucian had pulled the trigger as his gun was still smoking. Selene's vision blurred with rage. Her entire body trembled, her nails digging into Axel's skin as she held him. Lucian watched, unfazed. 'Tick-tock, Selene, make your choice." The street lamps flickered overhead, casting long shadows across Lucian's men, their guns still raised. Selene's breath came in sharp, ragged gasps. She looked at Axel, at the pain in his half-lidded eyes then at Caleb, still standing, still fighting to keep them together and then she made her decision with one final breath, she turned to Lucian. 'Fine. I'll go." Lucian's smirk returned. Selene gently lowered Axel onto Caleb's side, her chest aching as she let him go, her hands curled into fists as she stepped forward, her heart pounding with each step she took toward Lucian. Lucian's men immediately surrounded her, their presence was suffocating. She cast one last look at Axel and Caleb. One last silent promise then Lucian raised his hand and his men knocked her unconscious and the world faded. The last thing she heard was Axel shouting her name.