Tears streamed down Lilia's face as the weight of her realization sank in. The person she had been desperately trying to escape from was the same person she now felt compelled to seek out.
Her breaths came in short, ragged gasps, a mix of exhaustion from running and the dryness clawing at her throat. Every inhale burned her lungs, but she didn't stop. All that mattered was escaping the sight of that old, disgusting man. Her legs moved faster, fueled by fear and desperation, even as her muscles screamed in protest.
She risked a glance behind her. The sight of him clutching his head sent a fresh wave of revulsion through her. He looked disoriented, stumbling slightly, yet the danger he represented was undeniable. A shiver ran down her spine.
What did he even want from her? She had no idea. What could a man like him possibly need from someone like her? The questions swirled in her mind like a storm, but there was no time to dwell on them.
"Z… Zethan."
