The night draped over them like an unyielding shroud, each breath Ava took swallowed by the oppressive darkness. The narrow mountain path beneath her feet was treacherous, a gauntlet of sharp rocks and steep drops that seemed to echo the precariousness of her situation. The stranger moved ahead of her, his figure barely more than a silhouette against the blackened sky, yet his presence was undeniable, a constant reminder of the danger that clung to her every step.
"Who are you really?" Ava's voice trembled as it broke the silence, laced with the mistrust that had rooted itself deep within her. She wanted answers—needed them. The uncertainty gnawed at her, each unanswered question a thorn digging deeper into her mind.
