Ava's words sent a chill down Emily's spine. She exchanged a nervous glance with Ryan, who instinctively positioned himself between Emily and the window.
"What do we do?" Emily whispered.
Ava swiftly moved to the door, her ears pressed against it. "I think it's just one person. We need to get out of here, now."
Ryan nodded, his eyes scanning the room for an alternative exit. "The back door?"
Ava shook her head. "It's blocked. We have to go out the front."
Without hesitation, Ava flung open the door and gestured for Emily and Ryan to follow. They stepped into the night, the darkness swallowing them whole.
As they moved swiftly away from the cottage, Emily heard the sound of footsteps behind them. The pace was deliberate, the steps light.
"Who's there?" Ryan called out, his voice firm.
The footsteps halted, and an oppressive silence fell over the night. Emily's heart pounded in her chest as she strained to see into the darkness.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. Emily gasped, her eyes fixed on the woman's face.
It was the same woman with piercing green eyes who had been watching Emily at the solstice concert.