Kieran’s fingers tensed around the hilt of his dagger, his senses sharp despite the lingering effects of the poison. Julian took a half-step in front of him, his own weapon drawn. The rustling sound came again—quieter this time, but unmistakable.

Something—or someone—was watching them.

Julian’s voice was low, barely above a whisper. “We don’t run. We stand our ground.”

Kieran nodded, adjusting his grip. The shadows between the ruins shifted, and a figure emerged from the darkness. A hooded man, clad in dark leather, his posture relaxed yet alert. His face was mostly hidden, but Kieran caught the gleam of sharp eyes beneath the hood.

Julian exhaled sharply. “You.”

The stranger smirked. “Miss me?”

Kieran glanced between them, his mind racing. Whoever this was, Julian knew him—and he didn’t look pleased about it.

The man took a slow step forward. “You made quite the mess back there. The whole city’s looking for you.”

Julian’s jaw tightened. “Are you here to turn us in?”

The man chuckled. “Now, now. Give me some credit. If I wanted you dead, you wouldn’t have made it out of the tunnels.”

Kieran felt Julian’s tension, but there was something about the way Julian’s shoulders shifted—like he was weighing his options. Testing the man’s words.

“Then why are you here?” Kieran finally asked.

The stranger’s gaze flicked to him, assessing. “Let’s just say I have an interest in keeping you alive. For now.”

Julian scoffed. “And we’re just supposed to trust you?”

The man smirked again. “You don’t have a choice.”

Silence stretched between them, thick with uncertainty. Then, distant voices echoed from the tunnels. The guards had realized their escape.

The man turned on his heel. “If you want to live, follow me.”

Julian hesitated, but Kieran had already made his decision. The ruins offered no cover, and they couldn’t outrun an entire garrison. Whoever this man was, he was their only shot at survival.

With a curt nod, Kieran moved. Julian followed a beat later, his expression dark with reluctance.

They vanished into the night, slipping between the ruins like ghosts.

To be continued...