The shadows of the trees grew longer as the sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the forest. I moved silently, careful to avoid the crunch of twigs underfoot. My heart raced, a mix of adrenaline and frustration coursing through me. I had been so close to catching the boy when he slipped away, darting into the underbrush like a rabbit fleeing a hawk. Now, as the darkness enveloped me, I felt the weight of the night pressing down, heightening my senses.
I could hear the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of crickets, but it was the muffled voices that caught my attention. I crouched low behind a thick trunk, peering through the foliage. There, in a small clearing, I spotted him—the boy. He was surrounded by the very men he had worked with, the ones who had fleed during the fight. But now, they looked tense, their postures rigid as they questioned him.
"What's are you still doing out here kid?"
