The night was a murky veil, draped over the forest like a shroud, suffocating and thick with tension. The silence was heavy, pressing in on Ava's mind, magnifying the soft crunch of leaves beneath her boots, the faint rustle of unseen creatures in the underbrush. Her breath came in short, shallow bursts, each inhale an effort against the weight of the darkness surrounding her. Every step was a battle, a struggle against the suffocating fear that gnawed at her resolve. She could feel it—an icy tendril of doubt curling around her heart, tightening its grip with each passing second.
"Why should I trust you?" Ava's voice was barely more than a whisper, yet it sliced through the stillness like a blade. The man beside her, a shadow amongst shadows, paused mid-step, his form barely discernible against the blackened backdrop of the night. His hood obscured his face, leaving only the glint of his eyes visible—eyes that held secrets, eyes that had seen too much.
