The night was still, save for the rustling of the leaves and the gentle murmur of the creek nearby. Elara sat beside me, her body tired and weary from the journey, though her mind seemed more restless than her body. I could feel her gaze on me, sharp and questioning, but I was too absorbed in my thoughts to acknowledge it. The words of the mastermind, spoken before he had left us to die in this forsaken forest, still echoed in my mind.
"Be careful of the darkness, mind your teeth, and be mindful that each step would become increasingly difficult."
What had he meant by that?
At the time, the words had only seemed like another sick game—another cruel mockery from the one who orchestrated our kidnapping, who had dropped us into this nightmare. But now, with the weight of our situation sett
