That was the first thing Evelyn felt. A sharp, burning sensation in her side. Her body was heavy, her mind sluggish. She tried to move, but something cold and rough pressed against her wrists. Rope. She was tied up.  
Blinking against the blinding light, she forced herself to focus. The world around her was spinning, but slowly, things became clearer.  
She was inside a building, no, a tent. The fabric above her swayed with the wind. The air smelled of blood and damp earth. Voices murmured nearby, low and urgent.  
Then she heard her voice.  
Lena.  
Evelyn’s heart clenched. The betrayal still felt fresh, like a wound that hadn’t yet begun to bleed.  
“She’s awake,” a deep voice said.  
Footsteps approached. Then Lena stepped into view, her expression unreadable.  
Evelyn clenched her jaw. “Why?” Her voice was hoarse, weak. “Why did you do this?”  
Lena sighed, crouching in front of her. “Because it was the only way to survive.”  
Evelyn’s breath came in short, sharp bursts. “You sold us out.”  
Lena didn’t flinch. “No. I saved you.”  
Evelyn let out a bitter laugh. “Saved me? You tied me up and handed me to the Reapers.”  
Lena’s gaze darkened. “You don’t understand, Evelyn. They were going to slaughter everyone. I made a deal... your life, in exchange for the others.”  
Evelyn’s blood ran cold. “And you believed them?”  
Lena’s face twisted, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. “I had to. I didn’t have a choice.”  
Evelyn’s stomach turned. 'This isn’t happening. This isn’t real.'
Then another voice spoke.  
“She’s awake, huh?”  
The tent flap swung open, and a man stepped inside. Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in dark, battered armor. His face was half-hidden by a mask, but his eyes gleamed with cruel amusement.  
Evelyn knew who he was before he even spoke his name.  
“Cain,” she whispered.  
The Reaper leader smirked. “It’s been a long time, Eve.”
Cain stepped closer, studying her like she was some rare specimen. Evelyn forced herself to meet his gaze, refusing to look away.  
“You’ve caused a lot of trouble,” he said, circling her. “But now, it’s over. You’re coming with us.”  
Evelyn clenched her fists. “And if I don’t?”  
Cain chuckled. “You don’t have a choice.”  
Lena shifted uneasily. “You promised you wouldn’t hurt her.”  
Cain turned to her with a slow, mocking smile. “I promised I wouldn’t kill her. That doesn’t mean she won’t suffer.”  
Lena stiffened, but she didn’t speak. Evelyn wanted to scream at her, to demand why she had trusted these monsters.  
But then she realized Lena looked just as trapped as she was.  
'She doesn’t trust them either.'
Cain knelt in front of Evelyn, grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at him. “Tell me where the artifact is, and maybe I’ll make this easy for you.”  
Evelyn glared at him. “I don’t know.”  
Cain sighed, shaking his head. “Wrong answer.”  
Then he struck her.  
The force of the hit sent her head snapping to the side. Blood filled her mouth, the metallic taste sharp against her tongue.  
She refused to make a sound.  
Cain stood, wiping his knuckles. “We’ll try again later. For now, get comfortable.” He turned to his men. “Make sure she doesn’t go anywhere.”  
Evelyn felt the ropes tighten as someone secured them even more.  
Cain walked past Lena, pausing just long enough to murmur, “You did the right thing.”  
Then he was gone.  
The tent fell into silence.  
Evelyn’s vision blurred from the pain, but she forced herself to focus on Lena.  
“You know they’re going to kill me,” she said quietly.  
Lena didn’t answer.  
“You think they’ll let the others go? They won’t. You know that.”  
Lena’s jaw tightened.  
Evelyn leaned forward as much as she could. “You can still fix this.”  
Lena finally met her gaze. And in her eyes, Evelyn saw something she hadn’t expected.  
Regret.
Hours passed. The camp outside was alive with movement Reapers sharpening weapons, fires crackling, the distant sound of laughter. They thought they had already won.  
They were wrong.  
Evelyn’s hands had been working at the ropes for what felt like forever. Her wrists were raw, her fingers numb, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t.  
Then, finally...
The rope loosened.  
Heart pounding, she glanced at the tent entrance. No guards inside.  
This was her chance.  
She moved carefully, keeping low as she slipped through the flap. The night air was cold, the scent of smoke thick in her nose. Shadows danced around the campfires, Reapers drinking and talking, unaware that their prisoner was slipping away.  
She took a step.
Then a hand grabbed her wrist.  
She spun, ready to fight.
Lena.  
For a moment, they just stared at each other. Then Lena shoved a knife into Evelyn’s hand.  
“Go,” she whispered.  
Evelyn hesitated. “What about you?”  
Lena’s lips pressed together. “I’ll hold them off.”  
Evelyn’s chest tightened. Despite everything, despite the betrayal, Lena was still Lena.  
Still the woman who had fought beside her.  
Still her friend.  
She nodded once. “Don’t die.”  
Lena smirked. “No promises.”  
Then Evelyn ran.  
Behind her, the shouts began.  
The hunt was on.