Elias stepped into the forest, the towering trees surrounding him like silent sentinels. The path ahead was narrow and covered in fallen leaves. Each crunch underfoot reminded him he was leaving the safety of Rivenwood behind. When he glanced back, the village was already fading into the mist, its cozy cottages and warm glow disappearing as if it never existed.
He adjusted his pack, feeling the weight of his belongings—or perhaps the weight of the curse burning faintly on his chest. The scar was always there, a constant reminder that no matter how far he went, he could never escape the life he'd been dragged into.
For the first hour, the forest seemed quiet. Birds chirped occasionally, and the distant rustle of leaves hinted at small creatures moving about. Elias kept his focus on the winding path, his hand never straying far from his dagger. The quiet was deceptive. He knew better than to trust it.
His steps faltered when the uneasy feeling crept in. He was being watched. It wasn't paranoia; he'd felt this too many times in his previous lives. He stopped in the middle of the path, his eyes scanning the dense trees around him.
"Show yourself," he said, voice calm but firm.
The forest stayed silent.
Then, a small figure emerged from the shadows. Elias's grip on his dagger tightened as he studied the stranger. It was a child—a girl no older than ten, with pale skin and dark hair that fell in messy waves. Her eyes, glowing faintly, locked onto his. She was barefoot and dressed in a simple white shift, but something about her presence felt unnatural.
"Who are you?" Elias asked, not lowering his weapon.
The girl tilted her head. "You're running again," she said, her voice soft but carrying an odd echo.
Elias's jaw clenched. "What do you mean?"
"You've been running your whole life," she replied, stepping closer. "This time won't be any different."
"I don't know who you are, but you clearly don't know me."
The girl smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I know you better than you know yourself. The Watchers know you too."
Elias's heart sank at the mention of them. "Are you one of them?"
She shook her head. "No. But they're close." Her glowing eyes flicked toward the shadows of the trees. "You're running out of time."
Before Elias could press her further, the girl stepped backward, fading into the darkness as though she was never there.
Elias stood frozen, trying to make sense of the encounter. The Watchers were here. He couldn't stay in one place for long. Tightening his grip on his pack, he continued down the path, his senses on high alert.
---
The deeper he went into the forest, the darker it became. The canopy overhead blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving only faint beams of light to guide him. The air grew colder, and the rustling sounds of animals had vanished completely.
Elias's thoughts kept drifting back to the girl. Her words lingered. "You're running again." She wasn't wrong. He'd been running for centuries, from the curse, the Watchers, and the remnants of his past lives. Each time he thought he'd found peace, something dragged him back into the chaos.
His train of thought shattered when he heard movement behind him.
Elias spun around, dagger in hand. His eyes scanned the dense forest, searching for the source.
Nothing.
A low growl echoed through the trees, sending a chill down his spine.
Elias tightened his grip on the dagger, his body tense. "Come out," he demanded, his voice cutting through the silence.
The shadows moved. Slowly, a massive wolf stepped into the faint light. Its fur was pitch black, its glowing orange eyes locked onto Elias with an unnatural intensity. The beast's sheer size dwarfed any wolf he'd seen before, its muscles rippling beneath its coat.
Elias took a step back, his heart pounding. This wasn't an ordinary wolf—it was something much worse.
The beast snarled, baring its teeth, then lunged at him.
Elias rolled to the side, barely avoiding its claws. He swung his dagger, but the blade barely scratched its thick hide. The wolf turned quickly, its glowing eyes fixed on him again.
"This isn't fair," Elias muttered under his breath.
The wolf charged again, faster this time. Elias dodged, slashing at its side. His blade connected, and the wolf yelped in pain, stumbling slightly.
But before Elias could feel any relief, the shadows around the wolf twisted unnaturally. The wound he'd inflicted began to close, the beast regenerating before his eyes.
"Great," Elias muttered. "It heals too."
The wolf snarled and lunged again. Elias barely managed to duck out of the way, his mind racing. He couldn't kill this thing—not with brute force. He needed a plan.
Spotting a narrow gap between two trees, Elias made a run for it. The wolf let out a furious howl and gave chase, its heavy paws crashing against the forest floor.
Elias pushed himself harder, weaving between trees and dodging low-hanging branches. The wolf was fast—too fast. He could feel its presence just behind him, closing the distance with every second.
Up ahead, a clearing came into view, bathed in pale moonlight. Elias bolted toward it, his lungs burning as he pushed himself to the limit.
He reached the clearing just as the wolf lunged again. Elias dove to the ground, rolling across the grass as the beast's claws narrowly missed him.
The wolf turned, snarling as it prepared for another attack.
Elias scrambled to his feet, gripping his dagger tightly. He couldn't run anymore. This time, he would have to face it head-on.
But before the wolf could pounce, a deafening roar echoed through the forest.
Elias and the wolf froze, both turning toward the source of the sound.
From the shadows emerged a figure cloaked in darkness. They moved with purpose, their presence commanding. The wolf growled but hesitated, its glowing eyes flicking between Elias and the newcomer.
The figure raised a hand, and the wolf let out a sharp yelp before retreating into the forest, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.
Elias stared at the figure, his chest heaving. "Who are you?"
The figure stepped closer, their face obscured by the shadows clinging to them.
"I'm someone who knows what you're running from," they said, their voice low and cold.
Elias tightened his grip on his dagger, unsure if this person was friend or foe. "If you know, then tell me."
The figure extended a hand toward him. "Come with me. I can give you the answers you've been searching for."
Elias hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to run. But deep down, he knew he couldn't outrun the curse—or the shadows chasing him.
He took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"I'll listen," he said cautiously. "But don't think for a second I trust you."
The figure chuckled softly, turning toward the forest. "Trust or not, it doesn't matter. You'll follow. You don't have a choice."
And with that, they disappeared into the shadows, leaving Elias with no option but to follow.