DANGEROUS BARGAIN

Lena's POV As Adam stands before us, a shadow veiled in peril and dishonesty, the evening air seems electrifying. My heart rushes, each pulse reflecting the rage and anxiety seething inside me. I look at Daniel, whose look reflects my own: the uncertainty, the strain pulsing between us. Try to sound braver than I do, Adam, and get out of here. "We neither want anything from you." His laugh is frigid, sending shivers down my back. "Oh, but Lena, you do." You lack the tools to meet what is ahead. You will call for my assistance. Everybody will. "Why would we trust you?," asked Daniel, moving forward, positioned defensively in front of me. "You have hurt us." Adam lowers his hands in imitation submission. "I am not here to fight. I am here to present a path out. I have the key; the planet you are fighting to survive on is about to change. "What type of key?" With a low yet steady voice, Nyla asks. Her eyes show a flutter of interest, fighting against the impulse to reject him totally. "Information," Adam says, his voice like silk. I know where the others are hiding. If you are ready to negotiate, I can show you there. Elias moves uneasily next to Nyla, obviously divided. "What's the Catch?" Adam's smirk gets wider. 'No catch. Only a straightforward conversation. You give me something in return. "What do you wish for?" I demand, my gut wriggling with anxiety. "I want you to join me," he continues, staring squarely at me with an oppressive intensity. "We can be really strong together. You have seen what I can do. Just consider what we could accomplish. At the idea, my stomach turns over. He's attempting to entice me in, to turn my worries into a proposition too sweet to be true. "Why would I ever travel with you? After everything you've done? "Because you're not as innocent as you pretend to be, Lena," he says, lowering his voice to a near whisper. Like me, you carry darkness inside you. You may welcome it or let it overwhelm you. You choose this. My breath seems to be stitching in my throat. About one thing, he's right: I have been fighting my own demons. But then accompanying him? I could not cross that line. Lena, don't pay attention to him! Daniel breaks in, his voice growing in desperation. "He is manipulating you." Adam's annoyed eyes flash. "She has a chance to transcend the anarchy." Daniel, what are you having to offer? A life in secret? Daniel snaps, "better than following a snake like you." I push them to halt by walking between them. " sufficient! What do you know about the others, Adam? He stops; the tension is clear. "They are scattered, running from someone trying to rule them. You have to believe me; I can show you where they are. You want me on your side if you are to survive. Strong with innuendo, the words hang in the air. Although I know depending on him could result in betrayal, part of me is fascinated. Perhaps he knows something that would benefit us. "We cannot decide right now," I responded, attempting to keep my voice steady. "We need time to consider.". Time is a luxury you don't have, Adam says, his voice hardening. "They will not stop until they locate you. They are arriving. Your only opportunity comes from me. I catch a quick look at Daniel; his eyes are worried. I watch him considering his choices; I know he worries about what Adam could do. Taking my hand, he exhorts, "Lena, we have to go." "We cannot put faith in him." But knowing he's got us in a bind, Adam's smile comes back. Then run. You should not, however, expect to discover your pals without me. The decision rests with you, Lena. Come along and you could just save them. else lucky. He turns this and disappears into the shadows, leaving a terrible silence behind. I stand there, heart pounding, doubt wriggling inside me. Pulling me closer, Daniel says, "Lena, we have to regroup and leave here." I hesitate and then add, "Wait." "What if he knows exactly where they are? What if our only opportunity to locate them is this one? And what if he is simply messing with your mental state? Daniel responds, annoyed, bleeding into his voice. "We cannot let him into your head." I could sense his weight of concern. " I know. But supposing he is correct about the gloom I carry inside me? Slips come out before I can stop them. "What are you discussing?" Daniel's eyes open in a mix of uncertainty and anxiety. I struggle to express myself and swallow hard. "I have been trying so hard to be strong, to defend us." Perhaps, though, there is a bit of me yearning for the power he describes. Perhaps it is simpler to offer than to fight. "Lena," he adds with a softening voice. You are more robust than that. You have battled too much to allow someone like him control. You are not by yourself in this. I am present. Each of us is. His comments encircle me like a lifeline, and I nod to attempt to get rid of the growing uncertainty. As right. Over us, we cannot grant him that authority. We should pay more attention to our own strengths. Exactly, Daniel says, his hold on my hand becoming more firm. "Let's hang together and work through this. The others will be found on our terms. I inhale deeply and feel the will grow within me. Okay. First light calls us to move. We will search the surroundings looking for any indicators of them. Nyla and Elias join us; their faces are tight yet focused. With a firm voice, Elias says, "We'll figure it out together." I nod and thank you for flooding over me. I realize at this instant that I am not by myself. As a team, we can meet whatever obstacles that lie ahead. I get fresh direction when morning breaks and golden light dances across the forest. We compile our possessions and get ready to leave. Though I brush it away, I can still feel Adam's suggestion weighing in my head. I will not let his gloom eclipse my will. "Stick close," Daniel adds, his voice low as we begin to go across the woodland. "Keep your eyes open." We go slowly, the noises of the forest all around us. I can hear birds chirping far away and leaves rustling here. Every stride has weight from expectation. I stop while we stroll to consider our distance from one another. I was adrift just a few weeks ago, trying to make sense of a world that seemed disorganized and demanding. Now, though, surrounded by friends, I experience the kind of belonging I felt was lost to me. Breaking my dream, Nyla says, "We have to split up and cover more ground." "We'll be more ready should we detect any indicators of the others." "Alright," I say, my pulse pounding at the idea of once more separating. "Let's reorganize in a few hours." I hang around with Daniel as we split apart. Deeper into the forest, the two of us walk amid heavier trees. The tension in the air reminds me of the threat that is just beyond our awareness. "Lena," Daniel says, disturbing the quiet. About what Adam mentioned last night... I know, I say, my voice low. "I refuse to let him triumph. I refuse to let the darkness he wants me to welcome rule me. He nods, his eyes darting over mine. "You're resilient, Lena. You have battled to reach this juncture. Simply said, you are not alone. We keep looking, but I can feel his words weighting in the air. It reminds me always of the struggle waging inside me—a struggle between hope and despair, light and dark. After what seems like hours of looking, we come upon a little creek with sunshine glittering in its water. "Let's break here," Daniel says, his voice a mix of relief and tiredness. I agree, appreciative of the opportunity to relax. I pause as we sit on the bank to organize my ideas. "What do you suppose Adam actually wants?" I look at Daniel and ask. With a serious look, he says, "He wants power." "I cannot let him use you as a pawn in his game." "I know," I remark in a low voice. Still, part of me questions whether he is accurate about me. If I do have darkness inside, what then? Daniel approaches more closely, his eyes sharp. "It doesn't matter. What counts is your attitude to it. One can use the darkness for good. Let him define you not here. I turn away to consider his comments. "It's just tough. I feel as though I have been battling for so long; occasionally I question whether I am strong enough to keep on. Daniel asserts, "You are strong," reaching out to grab my hand. You already have evidence of this. Look at all you have overcome. Remember not to forget this. His comforting hold makes me feel a flutter of optimism starting inside me.