BLOODLINE Vol 1

CHAPTER 8-Embers of the Unknown

The river's relentless current pulled Scarlet deeper into the void, her senses fading as the world she once knew slipped away. When she finally regained consciousness, it was to the strange sensation of rough, cold earth beneath her. The surroundings were unfamiliar—an eerie valley shrouded in dense, towering trees that seemed to press in on her, their dark silhouettes like sentinels of some forgotten realm. The air felt heavy, each breath a struggle against the suffocating weight.

Her vision swam, the world a blur of shadows and flickers, and dread settled in her chest like a stone. *Where am I?* Then, through the haze, she saw it—movement. A tall and imposing figure emerged from the forest's gloom, his presence unsettling yet undeniably magnetic. He moved toward her with an air of purpose, each step slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey.

Scarlet's heart thudded in her chest, a surge of panic rising in her throat, but her limbs felt heavy, too weak to react, to scream, to fight back. Her body trembled, her breath shallow as she lay there, helpless.

In an instant, the stranger crouched beside her. His hands, warm and strong, lifted her effortlessly, pulling her into his embrace. She could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her ear, the contrast so sharp to the chaos of her own. It was both soothing and terrifying.

"Who... who are you?" Her voice was a mere whisper, a thread of sound, before the darkness surged back, claiming her once more. Her body went limp in his arms, powerless to resist, lost to the shadows that seemed to hold her captive.

Meanwhile, Kalel was at the same riverbank, frantically searching for his baby sister. "Scarlet! Scarlet!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the empty air. His desperation grew with each passing moment, but there was no response. Hours passed, and exhaustion began to take its toll. He stopped to rest, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but a rustling noise from the bushes startled him.

Kalel's heart pounded as he approached the sound cautiously, curiosity mixed with fear. Just as he neared the source of the noise, he felt a sudden, heavy blow to the back of his head. Pain exploded through his skull, and his vision blurred. He could barely make out the shapes of figures moving toward him. Before reacting, he felt dragged across the beach sand and into the forest. Kalel tried to resist, but his strength was fading fast. The pain in his head was overwhelming, and he could feel the rough ground scraping against his skin as he was pulled deeper into the forest. Fear and confusion clouded his thoughts.

The darkness closed around Kalel, his consciousness slipping away as he was dragged further into the unknown.

The evening had passed, and Scarlet slowly regained consciousness. As she opened her eyes, she scanned her unfamiliar, dark surroundings. The glow of a campfire and the silhouette of a raised tent caught her attention. Her thoughts immediately went to her brother, Kalel. "Kalel?" she called out weakly, hoping he was nearby. Rising to her feet, she began to walk towards the tent, but a figure emerged from the shadows, causing her to halt.

Fear gripped Scarlet as she took in the sight before her. The man standing there was carrying logs of wood across his broad shoulders. He stood about six feet tall, wearing a sleeveless top that exposed his muscular arms and his intricate moon tattoos. His skin glistened in the moonlight, and his long silver hair partially covered his face, swaying gently with the breeze. Scarlet couldn't take her eyes off him, mesmerized by his almost divine appearance
as if he were a god who had descended to earth. His presence was powerful and serene, an unsettling blend that made her heart race and her breath catch. His shimmering grey eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine, as though he could see every hidden part of her soul.

"You are awake?" he uttered in a deep voice, smooth like velvet but carrying an undeniable authority. His words seemed to pull her back to reality, breaking the trance that had held her. For a moment, Scarlet couldn't remember how long she had been staring at him, or why she felt as though she had just seen a figure from some forgotten dream.