As the six continued to crawl through the forest, their bodies shaking with exhaustion and pain, Lyerin's laughter filled the air like a predator toying with its prey.
He loomed over them, each step deliberate, his gaze gleaming with sadistic amusement.
"Is that all you've got?" Lyerin sneered, crouching down to Miriam's level. He grabbed her arm and twisted it just enough to make her cry out in pain.
"You think this little display of determination impresses me? Crawl faster, or I'll break this arm just to give you something real to cry about!"
Miriam bit her lip to hold back her scream, tears streaming down her dirt-covered face as she clawed forward.
Donovan, who was just ahead of her, glanced back with wide, terrified eyes but didn't dare stop to help. Lyerin's gaze shot to him immediately.
"Oh, so you care about your little friends?" Lyerin chuckled, walking over to Donovan with a calm yet terrifying pace.
