The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 268: Ch 267: Back to the Cage - Part 1

Selene stepped forward, brushing off the leaves from her shoulders.

"I can lead us back to the castle...I think. I do remember the way back."

She said, her voice steady even though her mind still felt like it was spinning.

But before anyone could respond, Zara’s voice cut through.

"Why would we need you to lead us when we have a perfectly good guide?" She tilted her head toward the captured guard, arms crossed.

Noah instantly flared up.

"If you don’t trust Selene, maybe you shouldn’t have come in the first place."

Zara’s eyes narrowed.

"It’s not about trust. It’s about being smart. She was barely functioning earlier. And this forest? It’s not exactly forgiving."

"Enough,"

Selene said, cutting through the tension. She turned to Zara, calm but firm.

"You’re right. I’m not confident I can get us there without getting turned around. Having a guide is better."

Noah looked at her, frustrated.

"You don’t have to back down—"

"I’m not. I’m making the smart call."

Selene said.

He fell quiet, jaw tight, clearly unhappy.

"Fine!"

He muttered, stepping back.

Selene gave him a look.

"Don’t pick fights just because you can, Noah. We don’t have time for it."

He said nothing, but his shoulders slumped. A second later, he drifted over to Nora’s side. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

"I don’t like her. She pisses me off for some reason."

He said quietly, glancing toward Zara.

Nora sighed.

"You’re overreacting."

"Am I? She’s always got something to say. Always challenging people like she’s testing them."

He asked, voice low.

Nora didn’t respond right away.

She’d noticed it too—how Zara always positioned herself just right, always had a reason ready.

There was nothing blatantly wrong, but something about her made Nora’s instincts flicker with warning.

Still, she shook her head.

"We don’t have proof. And she hasn’t done anything... yet."

"Yet."

Noah echoed grimly.

______

They returned to the spot where they’d left the captured guard tied up and unconscious.

The man was awake now, sitting slumped against a tree, rubbing his head and muttering to himself.

His eyes snapped up the moment he spotted Ethan walking toward him, and the expression on his face shifted instantly—from dazed to enraged.

"You bastard! You think tying me up and knocking me out will make me betray my country? I’d rather die."

The guard spat, struggling to rise but still too dizzy to stand.

Ethan didn’t seem bothered. He crouched down, giving the man a faint, amused smile.

"Relax. I’m not asking you to betray anything. Just need a small favor."

The guard narrowed his eyes.

"What kind of favor?"

Ethan placed a hand on the man’s shoulder and leaned in slightly.

"You’re going to show us the way back to the castle. That’s all."

The man flinched, startled by the calmness in Ethan’s voice.

"Why?"

He demanded.

"What are you planning to do at the castle?"

"Don’t worry about that. Just get us there, and you’ll be free to go."

Ethan replied simply.

The guard hesitated.

Something about Ethan made it impossible to tell if he was lying or not. But the offer was tempting.

Escorting them straight to the palace might actually work in his favor—he could lead them right into a trap, where they’d be captured before doing any damage.

"...Fine. But we move when it’s dark. It’s safer that way."

The guard muttered.

Ethan nodded.

"Sure."

The group moved silently as twilight faded and darkness took over.

The guard took the lead, weaving them through twisting paths and gnarled roots. Trees loomed overhead, casting long shadows, and distant howls echoed through the forest.

The guard smirked to himself.

’Any minute now...’

But nothing came. No rustling in the underbrush. No glowing eyes in the dark.

Just stillness. Even the usual ambient buzz of insects and animals felt strangely muted.

He kept walking, glancing around.

Still nothing.

An hour passed. Then another. Still, no sign of the monsters he knew inhabited this part of the woods.

He frowned.

’Where are they?’

He could feel them—he knew they were nearby. Watching. Waiting.

But none made a move. None crossed the invisible line to attack.

His smirk slowly faded, replaced with confusion. And then, irritation.

Selene, walking just a few steps behind him, narrowed her eyes.

She could feel it too—the strange stillness in the air, like the world itself was holding its breath. It wasn’t natural.

The guard kept glancing behind him, clearly unnerved.

His plan wasn’t going how he expected, and Selene could see the tension growing in the way he moved—stiff, nervous, unsettled.

Noah leaned closer to Nora and whispered.

"Something’s not right with him."

Nora nodded subtly.

"He expected something to happen. But it didn’t."

"I think the forest is avoiding us."

Selene murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

The thought was unsettling. But no one said anything more as they continued toward the looming silhouette of the castle in the distance.

As they moved through the silent forest, Selene heard the voice again—soft, almost soothing.

[You’re doing the right thing. Just keep moving forward.]

She clenched her fists.

Selene shook her head, trying to drive the voice away.

It had gone quiet for a while, and she’d hoped it would stay that way. But now it was back, whispering in her ear like it knew exactly when to strike.

’I don’t need you. Just leave me alone’

She told it silently..

[You should be grateful. I’m the one keeping the monsters away. Without me, you’d be surrounded by now.]

The voice replied, calm and measured.

Selene’s steps faltered for half a second.

Was it true? She hadn’t sensed anything close by. No monsters. No danger. And yet...

She bit her lip and focused ahead.

’No. I can’t let this distract me.’

"Selene? You good?"

Ethan’s voice brought her back.

"Yeah. Just... thinking."

She mumbled. The voice didn’t speak again, but Selene could still feel its presence—resting quietly in the back of her mind. Watching. Waiting.

And whether she liked it or not, a part of her knew it was protecting her.