The Assassin | KITTYZ

Chapter 18: Crossing Lines

THIRD PERSON POV

The forest grew darker, and shadows stretched long across the ground as the sun dipped below the trees. Hanni's legs ached, but the sense of urgency kept her moving. Each snap of a twig made her pulse quicken; the guards were close, relentless in their pursuit. Despite her exhaustion, she forced herself to keep pace with Haerin, Danielle, and Hyein, each of them bearing the weight of their own burdens.

They trudged deeper into the forest, where the foliage thickened, and the undergrowth tangled around their ankles. As night fell, Haerin signaled for them to stop, leading the group to a concealed clearing shielded by thick branches. It wasn't much, but it was hidden enough for a moment's reprieve.

Danielle and Hyein began setting up a makeshift camp, their movements practiced and efficient. Hanni, grateful for the break, sank to the ground, her back against a tree trunk. The silence between them was thick with tension and unspoken thoughts, and Hanni found herself glancing at Haerin. She could sense the turmoil beneath Haerin's steely exterior, a tension she couldn't fully decipher.

Finally, Hanni took a deep breath and approached her. "Haerin," she murmured, keeping her voice low. "Why are you doing all of this for me?"

Haerin's gaze met hers, guarded and sharp, as if weighing each word carefully. "Does it matter?" Her tone was cool, almost dismissive, but Hanni caught the flicker of something deeper in her eyes—an uncertainty that lingered just below the surface.

"Yes, it matters," Hanni replied, her voice soft but steady. "Because I don't want you taking risks for me if it puts your people in danger. You've done more than enough. I don't want to be a burden."

Haerin's expression softened for just a moment before she turned away, her voice barely a whisper. "Burden?" she echoed, almost as if speaking to herself. "It's more complicated than that."

Hanni waited, hoping she might open up further, but Haerin fell silent. Frustrated and unsure, Hanni sighed, leaning back against the tree trunk. Every moment in Haerin's presence seemed to stir a storm of conflicting emotions, and she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more going on beneath Haerin's stoic surface than she was willing to admit.

Just as the silence became almost unbearable, Danielle reappeared, her face grim as she approached Haerin. "We have a problem," she murmured, glancing between them. "I intercepted news from the palace. The rebellion isn't just a rumor—they're mobilizing. And the palace forces are preparing for a full confrontation."

Hanni felt her stomach drop. The rebellion her father had whispered about was no longer a distant threat; it was coming, and it was closer than she'd ever imagined. She looked to Haerin, but her expression was unreadable, her eyes fixed somewhere beyond them, lost in thought.

Haerin turned to Danielle, her voice steady but laced with urgency. "How long do we have?"

"Days, maybe less," Danielle replied, her tone grave. "And if we stay here, we'll be caught in the crossfire."

Hanni's pulse quickened as she processed Danielle's words. She was no longer just a princess in hiding; she was a liability, a risk Haerin and her team were taking in the face of something far greater. The stakes had risen, and now she was faced with a choice—remain loyal to her father, the king, or stay with Haerin and risk everything.

Haerin's gaze swept over each of them, her eyes hardening with resolve. "We don't have time to waste," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We need to keep moving."

But Hanni couldn't let the moment slip away. She stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly. "Haerin, why are you doing this?" Her question hung in the air, the weight of it pressing down on both of them.