✓ | The Borrowed Identity (Fate's Transgression Series, #4)

TBI 16: Bounty

[ Chapter 16: Bounty ]

Selene | Selvy

Valan and I were transported to another place. He immediately reached the nearby wall when he almost lost his balance. I rushed to Valan's side, concern etched across my face as I witnessed him struggle to maintain his balance against the wall. It was evident that he had not fully recovered from the intense battle, and the sudden transport had only exacerbated his weakened state.

"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice filled with genuine worry. Mukha siyang may iniinda na sakit pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang kaya kong gawin dahil wala naman akong alam sa kalagayan niya.

He looked at me with a faint smile, his eyes reflecting exhaustion. "I'll be fine," he replied, his voice strained. "I just need a moment."

I nodded understandingly, giving him the space he needed to regain his composure. The air around us crackled with tension, the remnants of the explosive transport still lingering. In this new location, shadows danced along the walls, casting an eerie glow on our surroundings.

He was doing a breathing exercise silently, as if he didn't want to be an inconvenience. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan isipin kung gaano katatag ang lalaking ito sa iniinda niya. Despite the physical and emotional toll he had endured, he remained stoic.

"Where are we?" I asked, glancing around the unfamiliar setting. Ang lugar may makitid na mga pasilyo at madilim na mga daanan.

Valan took a deep breath, his gaze focused. "This is a hidden tunnel beneath the hotel," he explained, his voice tinged with a hint of secrecy. "It's connected to different nearby escape routes of the town. We'll travel west."

The revelation piqued my curiosity, fueling my desire to uncover the secrets that lay hidden within these walls. Malamig ang paligid, at may nakakatakot na tunog na nagmula sa isang tubo. The lights were dim, not enough to cover the entire path, but it was enough to see each other's silhouettes.

Hindi ko gusto ang nararamdaman ko sa tunnel na ito kaya napahawak ako sa braso ni Valan. "We need to be cautious," I cautioned, my voice hushed. "I don't like how eerie the vibe is."

I sometimes know how to use my super hearing senses, and based on the activities I just heard, there's something inside the tunnel that makes sense creep down my spine.

As we walked through the dimly lit corridors of the hidden tunnel, an eerie sensation washed over me. Each time we approached a light source, it inexplicably flickered and extinguished, as if triggered by some unseen force. The rhythmic pattern of the lights going out felt almost like a sensory monitor, as if our presence was being detected and responded to.

The air grew heavy and a heightened sense of caution enveloped us. We proceeded with a deliberate pace, navigating the labyrinthine passageways with caution. With each flickering light, our surroundings seemed to grow darker and more foreboding. Shadows danced along the walls, casting elongated forms that seemed to twist and contort in the periphery of our vision. It was as if the chamber itself was alive, reacting to our presence with an unsettling energy.

As we ventured deeper into the labyrinth, the flickering lights became more frequent, almost synchronized with our footsteps. It was as if the very environment we were in was conspiring against us, attempting to shroud us in darkness and disorientation.

"Valan," I uttered to spark a conversation as we walked. My voice was laced with determination. "Do you happen to know why there's a bounty on me? Alam niyo naman na wala kong maalala kaya hindi ko mahanap ang sagot kung bakit araw-araw na lang may peligro na dumadating."