Freya's POV
Before me, the forest went on forever, motionless and dark, as though the trees themselves were keeping watch. The chilly air made my breath hazy, but I persisted. I didn't turn around. Reluctantly, Finnick and Kade had decided to stay behind, believing that I would carry out my plan. Nevertheless, I could sense their uncertainty and concern, hovering in my thoughts like spectres.
I gripped the dagger strapped to my side more tightly. "I can do this," I told myself in a whisper. "I have to."
The woodland grew wilder the farther I went. As the trees grew taller, much of the light was blocked by their tangled branches. The bark was engraved with strange symbols, such as circles, lines, and patterns that I couldn't identify. They appeared to be alive, with a little pulse.
