The dense forest loomed ahead, a sea of shadows and secrets. The system had indicated Mary's location within these woods, and I couldn't afford to hesitate. Raven and I had decided to split up to cover more ground, but now I found myself alone, the weight of our past encounters pressing down on me like a dark cloud. The knowledge that Mary was somewhere out there, plotting her next move, drove me forward.
The forest was eerily silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. As I ventured deeper, the trees seemed to close in, their branches intertwining like skeletal fingers. The air grew colder, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. My instincts were on high alert, every sense attuned to the slightest hint of danger.
