Isla and Kai stared at the woman, her fiery red hair illuminated by the streetlights. Isla felt a mixture of gratitude and suspicion. Who was this woman? Why had she helped them? Kai, ever cautious, kept his guard up. He sensed a power emanating from her, a strength that both impressed and unnerved him.
"Thank you," Isla said, her voice hesitant. "Who are you?"
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Let's just say I'm a friend," she replied, her voice warm and reassuring. "My name is Anya."
Anya. The name was unfamiliar, yet it sparked a flicker of recognition within Isla. She couldn't place it, but she felt a strange connection to this woman, a sense of trust that she couldn't explain.
"Why did you help us?" Kai asked, his voice still wary.
Anya's smile faded, her expression turning serious. "Because I know what Thane is," she said, her voice low. "And I know what he wants."
Isla and Kai exchanged a look of surprise. This woman knew Thane? And she knew what he wanted? This was more than they could have hoped for.
"What is he?" Isla asked, her voice filled with urgency.
Anya hesitated, her gaze sweeping over them, assessing their trustworthiness. "That's a long story," she said finally. "And it's not a story I can tell you here."
Isla felt a pang of disappointment. She wanted answers, she needed to know the truth. But she understood Anya's caution. They were still in danger.
"Where can we go?" Kai asked.
Anya considered for a moment. "There's a place," she said. "A place where we can talk, where we'll be safe."
She led them through the maze of streets, her footsteps sure and confident. Isla and Kai followed closely, their trust in this enigmatic woman growing with each step. They didn't know where she was taking them, but they knew they had to trust her. She was their only hope of unraveling the mystery that surrounded them.