Echoes of Olympus; The Return of the Forgotten Gods

Chapter 6

one direction- drag me down 

"I've got fire for a heart, I'm not scared of the dark

You've never seen it look so easy"

As we crouched in the dimly lit wagon, the opulence around us a stark contrast to our tense reality, I noticed the subtle shift in the shadows. A guard, his footsteps heavy and deliberate, entered the wagon, his gaze sweeping the area. My heart pounded in my chest, the rhythm quickening as I saw him heading straight for Lucian.

Lucian pressed against the wall, hadn't been seen yet, but it was only a matter of seconds. I couldn't let that happen. Moving with the stealth of a panther, I crept up behind the guard. Each step was measured, and my breath was held tight in my lungs. The air around us felt thick as if the very atmosphere was holding its breath alongside us.

In one swift, decisive motion, I wrapped my arm around the guard's neck, pulling him into a headlock. The struggle was brief but intense, his body thrashing against mine like a fish caught on a line. I could feel the tension in his muscles, the desperate fight for air. But I held firm, my grip unwavering.

The guard's movements slowed, his body growing limp as unconsciousness took hold. I gently lowered him to the floor, every movement calculated to avoid making a sound. The passengers in the next wagon remained blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding just feet away. Carefully, I tucked the unconscious guard behind a large crate, ensuring he was out of sight.

Lucian slipped past me, his movements smooth and practiced, and crouched beside Seraphina. "Thanks, Dorian," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rumble of the train.

Seraphina, always quick with a quip, gave me a playful smile. "Well, looks like the guard didn't stand a chance against our strong giant Dorian," she said, her tone light but her eyes reflecting the seriousness of our situation.

I couldn't help but smile back, the tension easing slightly in the warmth of our camaraderie. "Just doing my part," I replied, my voice low and steady.

Lucian's gratitude and Seraphina's humor were like a balm to the raw nerves of the moment. I watched as Lucian settled beside her, their closeness a testament to the trust and bond we shared. The chemistry between us was palpable, forged in the fires of countless shared dangers and triumphs.

As I returned to my hiding spot, I glanced around the wagon, the opulent decorations a stark reminder of the disparity between us and the privileged few on the other side of the door. The air was thick with tension, each breath we took laden with the weight of our mission. The train's gentle sway was a cruel mimicry of a lullaby, its rhythm belying the peril we faced sooner had we secured the unconscious guard behind the crate than the crackle of a walkie-talkie shattered the still air, its sharp static a harbinger of chaos. An urgent voice broke through, announcing that two intruders—Zephyr and Avaia—were causing disruptions in another wagon. My stomach clenched. Our plan was unraveling fast.

Without a word, Seraphina, Lucian, and I exchanged glances that spoke volumes—the kind of silent communication born of countless shared battles. Instantly, we were in motion, our bodies a blur as we sprinted towards the commotion, our resolve as sharp as a blade slicing through the tension.

The train's narrow corridors became our battleground. Each step we took was like a drumbeat to war, our movements synchronized and lethal. Guards appeared as if materializing from the shadows, but we were a storm rushing over them. My fists and feet moved with practiced precision, striking with the force of a hammer against an anvil. Beside me, Lucian was a whirlwind of fury, his strategic mind guiding his every block and counterattack.