Chapter 4 4

Kratos didn’t like it and this wasn't about the way Lyra moved like she already knew where she was going and definitely not the fact that he was following someone he had just met.

“Where are we going?” he asked, keeping his voice low as they moved through a narrow backstreet.

Lyra didn’t look back “You ask too many questions” she said.

Kratos frowned “And you answer none”

“That’s because answers get people killed” Lyra replied.

“That doesn’t make any sense, answers are supposed to solve problems” Kratos answered.

“It will surely get one killed faster” Lyra answered with a smirk.

Kratos clenched his jaw but said nothing else. The streets around them were quieter now and the further they moved away from the main roads, the darker it became. Fewer lights, fewer people and less noise.

“They’re still coming, aren’t they?” he asked.

“Yes” Lyra responded.

Kratos exhaled slowly “Who are they?”

Lyra finally slowed her steps slightly “Erebus soldiers”.

Kratos stiffened “I’ve heard of them…”

Everyone had, even the street kids like him knew the name. Erebus wasn’t just a kingdom, it was a control, it was fear and power. “They don’t usually come this deep into the city” Kratos added “Not unless something important is here”.

Lyra stopped walking, then she turned, her eyes landed directly on him “Exactly”

Kratos felt his stomach rumble “Is it me?”.

She didn’t say it, she didn’t have to and silence stretched between them for a second. Then there was breakage in silence “We need to move faster” she said, turning away again.

Kratos followed, his thoughts racing “I don’t understand” he muttered “Why me? I’m just a nobody”.

Lyra didn’t respond immediately. They turned another corner, slipping into a tighter alley, barely wide enough for two people to pass side by side.

“You stopped being ‘nobody’ the moment you touched that amulet” she said finally.

Kratos’s hand instinctively moved to his chest, it was still there. “What is it?” he asked quietly.

Lyra’s steps slowed again but she didn’t stop this time “Something Erebus has been searching for in a long time”.

Kratos swallowed “And now they think I have it”.

“They don’t think” Lyra replied “They know.”

Kratos’s chest tightened, he didn’t like the sound of that. They reached the end of the alley and stepped out into a wider street, Kratos immediately felt exposed “Wait” he said suddenly.

Lyra stopped and questioned “What?”

Kratos looked around carefully “Don't you think it’s too quiet?”

Lyra’s expression shifted slightly, she scanned the area but she found nothing, but that didn’t mean anything. Kratos’s instincts gave a warning that something was off. Then, a metallic sound echoed behind them, above and ahead.

Kratos’s eyes widened “We’re surrounded”.

Figures stepped out from the shadows, from rooftops, from behind walls and from places they shouldn’t have been.

Erebus soldiers were more than before and much more. Lyra’s gaze hardened “They’re faster than I thought”.

Kratos’s breathing grew uneven and even scared “There’s too many people, what are we going to do?” he was almost shivering in fear. 

“Stay behind me” Lyra said sharply.

Kratos blinked “What? No”.

“Stay…Behind…Me” Something in her tone made him stop arguing.

The soldiers closed in slowly, one of them stepped forward, he looked like their leader “You’ve caused quite a disturbance” he said calmly.

His eyes shifted to Kratos “And you…”

Kratos felt frozen under that gaze…

“You’re coming with us” he ordered.

Kratos clenched his fists “I’m not going anywhere”.

The soldier didn’t react “Take him” he ordered.

They moved, all at once but Lyra stepped forward as fast as she could, her blade flashed in the dim light. The first soldier dropped before he could even react.

Kratos stared “She’s definitely insane” he gasped in amusement.

The others attacked and chaos erupted, steel clashed and footsteps pounded, voices shouted. Kratos backed up instinctively, his heart racing. Lyra fought like she had done this a hundred times but even she couldn’t cover everything.

One broke past her, straight toward Kratos.

“Got you!” He said happily.

Kratos froze for a split second, the soldier lunged. Kratos reacted late but something else reacted first: the amulet flared. A surge of energy rushed through him, it was stronger than before. His body moved, faster than his mind. He grabbed the soldier’s arm and threw him. The man slammed into the wall with a sickening crack. He couldn’t get up.

Kratos staggered back “No… I didn’t just do that, that's impossible”. He was still in shock of how he did that and what just happened, then another soldier rushed him but Kratos turned too slow. A blade cut across his arm, he felt the pain instantly “Arrgh!” He stumbled back, clutching his arm, his breathing broke.

“I’m going to die…” The thought hit him hard, he was terrified.

Lyra saw it, her expression changed “Kratos!” she shouted. He looked up but too many soldiers were closing in again. He couldn’t keep up. He didn’t know how to fight like this, his body felt strong but his mind was in chaos.

“I can’t do this…” he muttered but something inside him stirred, that same feeling: cold and deep. The amulet pulsed once and then twice. Then, everything slowed, the sounds faded, the pain dulled. Kratos’s eyes widened “What’s happening?”

He heard a faint voice from inside of him “Move”. His breathing steadied, his grip tightened, the fear didn’t disappear but something else rose with it.

The next soldier came at him but Kratos moved and dodged then he struck hard; The man dropped and another came, it was same result. Even Kratos didn’t understand how he was doing it. It just… happened.

Lyra noticed, her eyes narrowed slightly “So it’s already happening”.

But it didn’t last, the moment passed just like that. Kratos staggered again, his breathing collapsing “No”. The strength faded and the soldiers noticed.

“Now!” the leader barked.

They rushed him together, Kratos tried to move but it was already late. One grabbed him and another struck him down, he hit the ground hard.

“Get the amulet” someone shouted.

Kratos tried to fight back but his body didn’t respond “Move…” he pushed himself but nothing. A hand grabbed the chain around his neck and pulled hard. The amulet didn’t break but Kratos felt a deep pain, like something was being ripped from inside him.

He screamed “Stop!” A violent surge exploded outward, it was blinding, deafening and everyone was thrown back. The walls cracked, the ground splitted then a sudden silence. Kratos laid there, barely conscious.

His vision blurred “I…” he wanted saying something but couldn't. His body was weak and he felt fragile like a single word was going to make him break.

There were still footsteps approaching, through the haze, Kratos saw the leader again, he stood gallant “Monster” the man muttered.

Kratos couldn’t move and couldn’t think “I’m not a” his voice was weaker now. 

The man reached for him again, then a blur, Lyra struck fast and precise.  The leader blocked but it forced him back “Get up!” she snapped. Kratos didn’t move “I can’t” he answered, almost quietly.

Lyra clicked her tongue “Then, fine”. She grabbed him and pulled him up roughly “Then don’t” she said sharply.

Before he could react, she threw something to the ground. Smoke exploded around them. Kratos coughed “What?!”

“Move!” Lyra ordered.She dragged him through the smoke. Kratos stumbled, barely able to keep up. His body felt heavy and a bit broken but he forced himself forward. They didn’t stop until the noise behind them faded, until they were gone.

Kratos collapsed against a wall, breathing hard “I… can’t keep running”. 

Lyra stood in front of him, watching him carefully “No, you can't” she said.

Kratos looked up at her “Then what do I do?”

Lyra didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she stepped closer, her eyes locked onto his “You stop running and start understanding” she said.

Kratos’s breathing slowed slightly “Understanding what?”

She pointed to his chest “The thing that almost got you killed”, she took a pause then “And the reason they won’t stop coming” she added.

Kratos swallowed “Are you going to explain so I can understand?”

Lyra held her gaze “Yes”. Then she added “But not here”.

Kratos almost laughed “Of course”. 

Lyra turned slightly, scanning the surroundings again “We’re going somewhere safe”.

Kratos frowned “There’s a place like that?”

Lyra looked back at him “For you?” A small pause “No” she declared.

“At least you’re honest” Kratos muttered.

Lyra didn’t respond, she stood up and started walking again. Kratos pushed himself off the wall slowly. His body screamed in protest but he followed because he knew now that there was no going back. As they disappeared into the deeper parts of the city, far behind them; The Erebus leader stood in the ruins of the street and his gaze was cold and focused “He’s stronger than expected” one of the soldiers said weakly.

The leader didn’t respond immediately.

Then, he said “Send word to the Archon” he paused and his voice lowered “Tell him we’ve found the Shadowborn”.