When the Hunt Begins

Previously

…My heart hammered against my ribs. My childhood fear of the dark, of being alone, of things unseen, surged through me with overwhelming force. But then I looked at Chloe, at Mark, their faces pale and etched with fear. I couldn’t let them see me crumble. I had to be brave. “Keep moving!” I yelled, my voice surprisingly strong. “Don’t look back! Just run!” We broke into a desperate sprint, the sounds of pursuit echoing behind us, growing louder, closer. Branches whipped at our faces, roots snagged at our feet, but we kept going, fueled by sheer terror. The dotted line on the map, our escape route, was suddenly our only hope. The shadow hunter was hunting, and the hunt had truly begun.