Mira Adams' heart pounded as she ran through the darkness of the forest, her small frame darting between the trees. The forest around her seemed endless, and all she could do was run. 

She had escaped the horror of a brutal war, where death claimed lives like a swarm of ants being crushed underfoot. But now, as the cold, damp air wrapped around her, she couldn't help but wonder if fleeing into this forest was a mistake. What if this place was just another form of death, waiting for her in the shadows?

Intrusive thoughts crept in, sending shivers down her spine. Her breath grew ragged, and her heart pounded so loudly it echoed in her ears. What if she wasn't alone? What if some wild animal lurked nearby, waiting to pounce? The thought of becoming prey caused her to push herself harder, her legs burning as they carried her deeper into the unknown.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her foot, stopping her in her tracks. A pained gasp escaped her lips as she stumbled beside a rock, clutching her foot. Something had lodged itself in her skin. With trembling fingers, she gingerly pulled the object out, biting her lip to keep from crying out as the sting intensified. Blood trickled from the fresh wound, mixing with the rain that had begun to pour down from the sky. Heavy droplets beat against her head and shoulders, seeping through her clothes and sending chills deep into her bones.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips, the irony of her situation gnawing at her. She had fled the war to avoid death, yet here she was, likely to die alone in the forest, either from her injuries or at the claws of some beast. Maybe this was her fate. Maybe she wasn't meant to survive after all. As she sat there, drenched and defeated, she heard something—voices.

"Master, we need you. Our people are dying."

Mira stopped in her tracks, her heart freezing in her chest as she covered her mouth. Cold rain slid down her back as she tried her best to suppress the scream that threatened to rip through her throat. Her foot throbbed in pain, blood gushing from the fresh wound.

However, she dared not make a sound.

She was supposed to be in the forest alone. Why were there other people here when the war was elsewhere?

She covered her mouth but failed to silence the hiccup that slipped past her lips. A husky yet dangerous voice cut through the darkness.

"So noisy..."

From the shadows emerged a tall, well-built figure. His sharp, defined features held an unreadable expression, radiating a chilling aura. Mira's already frozen veins felt even colder as she caught sight of him. Instinctively, she lowered her head beside the rock, trying her best to hide in the corner.

Please don't see me, please don't see me...

"Show your face."

Her body froze at the command. The voice was cold, authoritative. Mira felt the weight of his gaze settle on her, like a predator spotting its prey. For a brief moment, she wondered if this was the end. Perhaps she wasn't destined to die at the hands of an animal, but rather at the mercy of this stranger.

Reluctantly, she turned her head, her eyes widening in terror as they met his. His dark eyes bore into hers, half-lidded and indifferent. He took a step closer, his movements eerily silent.

"Spy, huh?" he said, his voice dripping with suspicion.

Mira's throat tightened. How could she possibly explain that she wasn't a spy? Her words came out in a stammer, barely audible above the rain. 

"I... I'm not a spy…"

He ignored her response, his gaze cold and calculating. His steps brought him closer, closing the distance between them as she tried to inch backward, her injured foot protesting with every movement.

"Derek must have sent a spy," he muttered, almost to himself. "Does he think this will help him win the war?"

Mira's breath caught in her throat. 'Derek'

Did this stranger have something to do with the war? And who was Derek? Questions swirled in her mind, but fear kept her silent.

Zamian—she didn't know his name yet, but the weight of his presence was suffocating—stopped in front of her. His finger, cold and firm, lifted her chin. His touch was light, yet it sent a jolt of fear through her entire body. When her eyes met his once more, she noticed the lifelessness in his gaze. His eyes were void of emotion, dark and empty.

"Maybe killing the spy wouldn't be such a bad idea," he said, his voice calm and detached, as if her life meant nothing.

'Kill?'

Mira's heart raced faster, the word echoing in her mind. He wanted to kill her. 

"N-no… you've got it wrong… I'm not a spy…" she stammered, her body trembling uncontrollably.

He gave her a look of disdain, his lips curling into a strange smile that never reached his eyes.

"Good. Now run," he ordered, noticing her slow retreat.

Mira's body froze. She couldn't move, not from fear nor from the searing pain in her foot. Her body refused to obey. 

"I have nowhere else to go," she whispered, her voice barely audible. The words tumbled out before she could stop them.

Zamian's expression didn't change. His cold, dark eyes seemed to pierce through her, as though he was looking into her very soul. Then, with a slow, mocking chuckle, he shook his head.

"Pathetic," he muttered.

Mira's heart sank. The pain in her foot was nothing compared to the humiliation she felt at his words. But his voice remained calm as he spoke again, his gaze flickering to her wounded foot.

"I'm not the lenient type. Judging by your injury, you won't last long anyway."

She tried to take a step back, but the pain intensified. Her body was shaking, her breath shallow and uneven. A soft hiccup escaped her, the sound more like a desperate plea than anything else. 

Zamian laughed, the sound cold and hollow, as though he found her struggle amusing. His laughter echoed in the silence, sending another wave of fear through her. His hair, damp from the rain, fell over his face, but those dark, soulless eyes never left hers.

"Please…" she whispered, her voice trembling. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but her feet remained rooted to the ground.

Just as she was about to move, he spoke.

"Come."

Mira's eyes widened in shock. Why did he agree? Did he want to kill her? The uncertainty gnawed at her, and her heart pounded in her chest, torn between fear and confusion.

He turned slightly, his back now facing her, but paused. Mira's mind raced—this was her chance. She could run now. She could escape. But as she shifted her weight, he spoke again.

"Did you change your mind?"

Her body froze once more. She had no idea what to do, her fear paralyzing her. She was left with two choices: to run for her life or to follow this dangerous stranger into the unknown. Either way, she knew the decision would change everything.