As I, Lenn, ran through the dense forest, tears blurred my vision. The image of Beau, lying defenseless under the shadow of the monstrous troll, haunted me. My heart pounded with a mix of fear and guilt, each beat a stinging reminder of my cowardice.
"Why did I run?" I berated myself, stumbling over roots and underbrush in my haste. "Beau… he was my friend… and I left him." The realization hit me like a physical blow, a sickening knot forming in my stomach.
I should have helped him, should have found a way, but fear had gripped me, paralyzing any courage I might have possessed. The sounds of the forest were drowned out by the echoing accusation in my head: "Coward! Betrayer!"
Lost in my thoughts, I almost didn't see her – an old woman standing in a clearing, her attire strange and archaic, with a pointy hat that seemed out of place in the wilderness. She was looking at me, her eyes a mix of curiosity and something else, something unreadable.
"Help," I gasped, the words tumbling out in a desperate plea. "My friend… he's back there… a troll… he needs help!"
The old woman regarded me, her expression shifting subtly. "A troll, you say?" Her voice was calm, almost soothing, but as I relayed the events, a flicker of something dark crossed her face, so quick I wasn't sure I had seen it.
"Yes, please, we have to help him!" I urged, my voice cracking with panic.
She stepped closer, and that's when I saw it – the briefest hint of a devilish smile, a glint in her eyes that belied her seemingly kind demeanor. It sent a chill down my spine, a sense of foreboding that I couldn't quite place.
"There, there, child," she said, her tone gentle. "Lead the way. Let's see what can be done for your friend."
As we made our way back towards the site of the encounter, a part of me felt relieved to not be alone, yet another part of me couldn't shake off the ominous feeling that had settled in my chest. The old woman's presence was comforting and unsettling in equal measure.
With each step, the dread grew, a heavy cloud overshadowing the sliver of hope I clung to. What if we were too late? What if Beau was…? I couldn't bring myself to complete the thought.
The chapter closes with us nearing the clearing, the old woman's steps silent and assured, a stark contrast to my own faltering ones. The air seemed to grow heavier, the forest holding its breath, as we braced ourselves for what lay ahead.