"Jessamyn!" he called again, louder this time, his voice echoing through the trees.
He scanned the surroundings, his mind racing with fear. The forest, which had seemed peaceful moments ago, now felt menacing and oppressive.
He dropped the food and started searching the area, calling her name repeatedly.
Jerrick's heart pounded as he scanned the area. The eerie silence of the forest wrapped around him, intensifying his anxiety. He hurried through the underbrush, calling Jessamyn's name, his voice growing more desperate with each unanswered call.
Then he came upon a pond he knew well—a dark, murky body of water notorious for being filled with leeches. His heart ached at the thought of Jessamyn getting into that water.
He spotted her shoe near the water's edge, a clear sign that she had been there. Panic surged through him.
"Jessamyn!" he shouted, his voice cracking.
