The night was a cloak of darkness, pressing in from all sides, suffocating in its stillness. Ava's heart raced, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she clung to the rough bark of a towering tree. The forest around her was silent, save for the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot. But she wasn't alone.
"Why should I trust you?" Ava's voice was laced with exhaustion, yet defiant, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the man before her. His tall frame loomed in the shadows, a dark silhouette against the night.
The man remained silent, his gaze unreadable beneath the hood that shrouded his face. He stepped closer, the moonlight catching the edge of his cloak, revealing nothing more than a gloved hand extended towards her.
"Who are you?" Ava demanded, her voice trembling with the weight of the decision before her. Trust was a luxury she couldn't afford. Not now, not when her life hung by a thread.
