I glanced between Elara and Valerie, feeling the rush of adrenaline slowly settle but knowing we needed to get out of here. "So…how are we leaving?" I asked, wondering how far we could make it on foot down this rugged mountainside. Elara's eyes met mine with a reassuring glint.
"Valerie came by car, and it's parked just down the mountain," she said. "The path isn't long, but we have to hurry before anything else catches on to what's happened here."
I nodded and turned to Valerie. She gave me a quick, apologetic smile, and for a moment, the tension softened. Together, we made our way quickly to her car, a small sedan parked in the shadows of the towering trees.
Before we left, I turned to Elara. "Where are you going to stay?"
Elara offered a mysterious smile. "I already have a place. I'll be close by if you need me again. Now go—you both need to get out of here."
