Chapter 52: Echoes of the Past
As Alex and Ethan ventured deeper into the hidden valley, the beauty of the untouched landscape did little to ease the tension that coiled tightly in her chest. The land, though unscathed by the ravages of war, carried an unnerving silence, broken only by the faint whisper of wind through the trees. She kept a firm hold on Ethan, who was leaning heavily against her shoulder, his face pale from the effort of their long journey. His once-robust frame had withered with each passing day, and though his spirit remained unbroken, she couldn't ignore the toll his injuries had taken on him.
"This place," Ethan muttered softly, his voice thick with fatigue, "it feels different. Like it's been waiting… watching."
