Adanne's lungs burned as she pushed her body to its limits, the forest blurring around her. Branches scratched at her skin, roots threatened to trip her, but she didn't stop. Samuel's shouts echoed in her mind, urging her forward. Run! Don't stop, don't look back. The darkness pressed in around her, the air thick and oppressive. Adanne's heart pounded as she stumbled through the dense underbrush, clutching the knife Samuel had given her. Her free hand cradled her swollen belly, silently pleading with the life inside her to hold on.Behind her, the forest was alive with noise -shouts, the snap of branches, the crunch of leaves under heavy boots. They were following her. Adanne fought the urge to scream, knowing it would only give away her position. Instead, she forced herself to focus on the path ahead, her mind racing for a plan. You can do this, she told herself. You have to do this. She spotted a dense thicket of bushes up ahead, their dark leaves and twisting branches offering some semblance of cover. Without thinking, she dove into them, ignoring the sharp thorns that tore at her skin. She crouched low, clutching the knife tightly, and tried to steady her ragged breathing.
The sounds of pursuit grew louder, closer. Adanne pressed a hand over her mouth, her body trembling as shadows passed just beyond the bushes. "She couldn't have gone far," a gruff voice growled. "Spread out" another commanded. "Find her. She's the last one we need." Adanne's stomach churned at the words. The last one? How many others had there been? How many lives had they destroyed in their twisted quest? The voices moved away, fading into the distance. Adanne didn't dare move, staying perfectly still until the forest was silent once more. Only then did she allow herself to exhale, her breath shaky. But she couldn't stay here forever. Adanne crawled out of the bushes, wincing as the thorns tore at her skin again. She glanced around, her eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. When she was sure the coast was clear, she got to her feet and began moving again, slower this time, her steps careful and deliberate. As the minutes stretched into an hour, the forest began to change. The trees grew taller and more twisted, their gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal hands. The air was colder here, carrying a faint metallic tang that made Adanne's stomach turn. She stumbled into a small clearing and froze. In the center stood an ancient tree, its massive trunk scarred with strange symbols. The ground around it was littered with bones-animal and human, their whiteness stark against the dark soil. Adanne's breath hitched. She tooka step back, her instincts screaming at her to run, but her foot caught on a root, and she fell hard. The impact jarred her body, and pain shot through her abdomen. "No," she whispered, clutching her belly. "Not now. Please, not now." Her body trembled as she forced herself to her knees, panic clawing at her chest. The air around her felt heavier, oppressive, as if the forest itself was watching her. Then she heard it. A soft, almost imperceptible whisper. Adanne froze, her heart hammering in her chest. The whisper grew louder, more insistent, but she couldn't make out the words. It seemed to come from all around her, a disembodied voice that seeped into her very bones. "Who's there?" she called, her voice shaking. The whisper stopped. For a moment, the forest was silent. Then, from the shadowS, a figure stepped forward. It was one of the hooded figures from the clearing, their black robe blending into the darkness. The figure raised a hand, pulling back their hood to reveal a pale, gaunt face. Their eyes were hollow, their lips twisted into a cruel smile. "You can't run forever" the figure said, their voice smooth and eerie. Adanne scrambled to her feet, holding the knife out in front of her. "Stay back!" The figure chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "You don't understand, do you? This isn't about you. It's about what you carry." Adanne's grip on the knife tightened. "You're not taking my baby." The figure tilted their head, their smile widening. "Oh, but it's not your baby. It belongs to us. To him." Adanne's stomach churned at the words. "You're insane."
The figure stepped closer, their movements slow and deliberate. "You can't fight fate. The ritual must be completed." Adanne took a step back, her mind racing. She couldn't let them take her. She couldn't let them win. Summoning every ounce of courage, she lunged forward, the knife aimed at the figure's chest. The figure moved faster than she expected, sidestepping the attack with ease. They grabbed her wrist, twisting it until the knife fell from her grasp. Adanne cried out in pain, struggling against their iron grip. "You're strong" the figure said, their tone almost admiring. "But it won't save you."
Adanne's free hand shot up, clawing at their face. Her nails raked across their cheek, drawing blood. The figure snarled, their grip loosening just enough for her to break free. She didn't hesitate. She grabbed the knife from the ground and slashed wildly, the blade catching the figure's arm. They let out a hiss of pain, stumbling back. Adanne didn't wait to see if they would recover. She turned and ran, her legs burning as she pushed herself harder than she ever had before. The forest seemed endless, its twisted trees and shadowy paths all blending together. Adanne's lungs burned, her heart pounding as she fought to put as much distance as possible between herself and her pursuer.
But the whispers returned, louder this time, filling her head with unintelligible words. They clawed at her sanity, threatening to drown her in their noise. "No!" she screamed, clutching her head. "Leave me alone!" The whispers didn't stop. They grew louder, more insistent, until she thought her head might explode. Then, just as suddenly as they began, they stopped. Adanne stumbled to a halt, her chest heaving as she looked around. The forest was silent again, the oppressive atmosphere lifting slightly. But she wasn't alone. From the shadows, more figures emerged, their hooded forms surrounding her.
Adannes grip on the knife tightened as she turned in a circle, her heart sinking. There were too many of them. She was trapped.