Samantha hovered at the edge of the sanctuary, her form flickering with exhaustion. She'd spent the last few hours guiding humans to safety, using every spectral trick she could muster to keep the vampires at bay. Now, as the last group of survivors found safety, a wave of relief washed over her.
But the feeling was short-lived. As the adrenaline of the chase faded, a new worry took hold. Where was Marcus?
Samantha tried to focus, to sense him as she had before. But the connection felt weak, tenuous. The night's chaos had scattered her energies, leaving her drained and unfocused.
"Come on," she muttered to herself, straining to pick up any trace of Marcus's presence. "Where are you?"
She drifted through the sanctuary grounds, passing through walls and trees in her search. Everywhere, she saw signs of the night's violence – torn clothing, spatters of blood, broken branches from frantic chases. But no sign of Marcus.
