Sarah's steps felt heavier with each passing moment as the weight of the artifact seemed to grow. The oppressive silence of the forest pressed in on her, amplifying every rustle and snap of a twig. Despite the exhaustion clawing at her limbs, she knew she had to keep moving. Fred was relentless, and if he caught up to her, there would be no escape.
She found a narrow path winding through the trees and followed it, her thoughts a chaotic mix of grief and determination. Richie was somewhere out there, and she couldn't let herself believe the worst. The artifact in her backpack pulsed faintly.
Hours passed in a blur of green and shadow, the forest a seemingly endless maze. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the heat became stifling, and Sarah's movements grew sluggish. She needed to find shelter, somewhere to rest.
