On her knees, Tess fought back the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. The weight of grief over Petra's death had left her vulnerable, her emotions on the edge. But amidst her sorrow, a sudden warning flashed through her senses, like daggers piercing her body.
Instinct kicked in, and she shifted to her right just in time to dodge a fast-moving object hurtling towards her. With a resounding impact, the object, which she could now discern as a baseball, collided with the nearby wall, creating a gaping hole surrounded by spider web-like cracks.
Tess turned her gaze in the direction it came from, her eyes scanning the distance. Amongst the trees, a figure stood, barely able to maintain their balance as they erupted into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Anger surged through Tess as she recognized Lanse. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, her resolve hardening.
