Till Sunrise┊Luke Castellan

26 .·:· Paths of Fate

(I couldn't for the life of me figure out who created this so if anyone knows pls let me know)

Words:  2,314

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Language warning

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The trees loomed over them, their ancient branches reaching out like gnarled fingers, casting ominous shadows on the forest floor below. Phoebe's footsteps were heavy, her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as Luke led her deeper into the woods.

She glanced up at the towering trees, their thick foliage blocking out most of the moonlight, leaving them in a cloak of darkness. The air was heavy with the scent of earth and pine, and the only sound was the crunch of leaves beneath their feet and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures in the underbrush.

"How much farther is it?" Phoebe asked again, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of their destination.

Luke smiled, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "Not much farther," he reassured her, his voice low and soothing. But this time there was something in his tone that Phoebe caught, and it set her on edge, a hint of secrecy that made her spine tingle with unease.

They walked on in silence, the forest closing in around them like a living, breathing entity. Phoebe couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of unseen eyes following their every move from the shadows.

The crackling of the fireworks echoed through the woods, casting fleeting shadows that danced around them. Phoebe watched Luke's reaction closely, her heart pounding in her chest as she saw him flinch and look around wildly.

"Luke?" she called out cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper. But there was no response, only the sound of their own ragged breathing and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

And then, from far away, beyond the towering pines that loomed over them, Chiron's voice crackled out through the rusted speakers, and Luke instantly froze, dead in his tracks, his only movements being his hand skittishly shooting to the handle of his sword.

"The lightning thief has been discovered. If you see Luke Castilian, approach with caution."

Phoebe's hand flew to cover her mouth, a small gasp escaping her lips. Luke slowly turned, and their eyes instantly interlocked.

Phoebe's words tumbled out in a breathless rush, her voice laced with disbelief. "Oh my gods, what? Why would they think it's you?" She laughed it off, trying to dismiss the fear that clawed at the edges of her mind.

But Luke remained silent.

Another burst of colour from the fireworks overhead illuminated them, casting their faces in a kaleidoscope of light and shadow. Luke jumped at the sudden brightness, instantly wielding his sword at his side. Phoebe took a shaky step back, her eyes suddenly wide with fear and confusion as she watched him, feeling a chill run down her spine.

"What's going on, Luke?" she asked hastily, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and confusion.

He tried to settle his nerves, for both their sakes. A shaky reassuring smile rising on his face. "It's okay, it's going to be okay. Just come with me," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.