BOOK 1: BEYOND THE ICE WALL - Chapter 24: The Edge of Departure (by Clive J. Welan)

Chapter 24: The Edge of Departure

Dawn had not yet come, but the night felt thinner, as if their time was running out. The old building was no longer safe—everyone knew it, even if no one said it aloud. Rhevan stood in the middle of the room.

“We move now.”

Pierre stood immediately.
“Finally.”

Quianna closed her laptop.
“Are they still nearby?”

Rhevan nodded.
“Closer than before.”

Silence. Eljireh stood slowly, his eyes calm, but his thoughts far from it.

“If we wait…”
“…we’ll be caught.”

No one argued.

They moved quickly, leaving the building as the cold air greeted them. The sky was still dark, but a faint line of light had begun to form along the horizon. Their time was almost gone. Their footsteps were fast, but careful. The outer dock wasn’t far—but it felt distant. Pierre led the way, his eyes sharp.

“If anything moves wrong…”
“…I’ll be the first to know.”

Quianna stayed in the middle, gripping her bag tightly. Rhevan followed behind, watching. Eljireh walked among them—but his thoughts lagged behind.

ROOT FAMILY

Why…

Suddenly—

“Stop.”

The voice came from the darkness. They froze instantly. Two agents stepped out from the right, two from the left, and from the front… a single figure stood.

Silence.

Pierre whispered,
“We’re surrounded.”

Quianna held her breath.

Rhevan said quietly,
“Don’t do anything stupid.”

The figure in front stepped forward—not an ordinary agent. His presence was different. His eyes locked directly onto Eljireh.

“You’ve come far enough.”

Silence.

“Eljireh Root.”

The name hit like a blow. Pierre stiffened. Quianna looked at Eljireh. Their false identities… meant nothing.

Eljireh stepped forward slightly.
“What do you want?”

The man didn’t answer immediately.
“You’ve been under our observation for a long time.”

Silence.

Eighteen years.

“You were never supposed to get this far.”

Eljireh stared at him.
“Why me?”

Silence.

The man gave a faint smile.
“That’s a good question.”

But he didn’t answer. Instead—

“Take them.”

In an instant—Pierre moved fast, striking the agent beside him. Quianna grabbed Eljireh.

“Run!”

Rhevan held off one of the agents.

Chaos—footsteps, impact, movement. Eljireh ran.

But his eyes caught the man—still standing, unmoving, as if none of this mattered.

They ran toward the dock. Footsteps behind them. More.

“Move!” Pierre shouted.

The ship came into view. Dargen stood on it.

“Now or never!” he shouted.

They were close. Almost there.

But—

a shot rang out.

Not lethal.

But enough.

Rhevan dropped to one knee.

“Rhevan!” Quianna shouted.

“Go!” Rhevan yelled back.

Eljireh stopped for a moment. A choice—friend or destination.

Pierre grabbed him.

“DON’T STOP!”

They ran, climbing onto the dock, the ship just a few steps away—

But—

Eljireh stopped.

Silence.

He turned back.

Rhevan was still there—held down. And the man was watching him.

For a moment… everything felt still.

Then the man spoke softly—just enough for Eljireh to hear.

“This is not the time.”

Eljireh froze.

What did he mean?

“ELJIREH!” Quianna shouted.

He snapped back. Pierre pulled him again. They climbed onto the ship.

Dargen shouted,
“Hurry! We don’t have time!”

But suddenly—floodlights turned on. The entire dock lit up. A surveillance ship appeared—closer than they had expected.

Dargen cursed.
“Damn it! We can’t sail now!”

Silence.

Eljireh stood on the ship, looking back.

Rhevan had been captured.

And the man was still watching him.

And for the first time… Eljireh realized something.

They could have been captured earlier.

But they weren’t.

They had been…

allowed to reach this point.

The sea wind blew—colder than before.

And in his heart… one question rose.

Was this truly the path he chose…

…or a path that had been prepared for him?