The moon hung silently overhead, its soft glow lighting up the clearing below. I didn't dare glance back, yet I could feel the visible tension in the air, a warning that the pursuers were drawing near. My breaths came in quick gasps as I sprinted forward, weaving through branches that reached out like fingers, the chill air stinging the cuts on my arms.
Each thump of my heart synchronized with my hurried footsteps, creating a frantic beat that mirrored the fear coursing through me. Yet, one thought propelled me onward. "Keep moving".
Russell's words echoed in my mind, relentless and clear. "You have to keep going, Melissa. I'll hold him off."
I didn't put up a fight. The certainty etched on his face and the urgency in his voice made it clear that retreat was not an option. He had turned decisively toward Avalor, a move that tightened my chest with dread. Now, I could sense the impending confrontation brewing behind me.
