Darius's POV
I CAN'T FIND ALLISON
"Allison!" My voice cracks, raw with panic, as it bounces off the trees and vanishes into the thick, suffocating silence. My heart slams against my chest, my breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. I thought I saw her dart behind a tree just moments ago—or maybe it was a shadow, a trick of the light. I don't even know anymore. My feet pound the earth, wild and aimless, as if my body is being pulled in every direction at once.
"Darius! Stop! Stop chasing her!" Sir Daniel's voice rises behind me, hoarse and winded, but I barely register it. His words sound distant, like they're coming from another world. He's probably hobbling along with his cane, struggling to keep up. I know I should stop. I know I should turn back. But I can't. I won't. Every fiber of my being is focused on one thing—finding Allison. Nothing else matters.
