Damien rested against the trunk of a massive tree, his head tilted upward as he stared into the thick canopy above. The moonlight barely pierced through the dense foliage, leaving the world around him cloaked in shadows. His breathing was steady now, though his body ached from exhaustion.
A single question played over and over in his mind, gnawing at him: 'Would I even make it out of here alive?'
He exhaled heavily, his breath forming a faint mist in the cool air. "I know the way," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible. "I'm beginning to master every path, every possible route that can be found inside of this damned forest. But leaving isn't the real problem, is it?"
His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the tension spreading through his weary muscles. "What happens when I do leave? What am I leaving with?" he whispered bitterly.
