68. Patrol

The moon remained her lone companion as Emma ran into the wilderness. Clutching the straps of her bag hanging down her shoulder, she hurried deeper into the forest for as long as her legs permitted. It was the last place anybody could find her, and for tonight, the forest would be her home. As she finally stopped by a huge rock that shielded her from the view of the rest of the forest, she realized how utterly exhausted she was. Collapsing onto the floor, she reeled in deep breaths to nullify her rapid ventilation.

As her heart calmed down, Emma glanced around her surroundings. While the moonlight shone through the canopy, it was still dark for her eyes to make out anything. Apart from the noise of some insects, the atmosphere around her was filled with deathly silence. She could hear her own pulse raging, trying to suppress the adrenaline that coursed through her body.

Although out in the wild, Emma finally felt safe. Despite having a roof under her head all these days, she was nev