Raziela “Enid!” I called out as I plunged into the thick undergrowth beyond the gate. Branches caught at my serving dress, tearing the fine fabric, but I didn’t care. “Enid, baby, where are you?”The woods were darker than I had expected, the canopy so thick that even the moonlight barely filtered through. I had to rely more on my other senses, following the faint trace of my daughter’s scent deeper and deeper into the forest.“Mama’s coming, sweetheart,” I called again, my voice cracking with tears. “Just stay where you are, baby. Mama’s going to find you.”The further I went, the stronger the scent became, confirming that I was on the right track. But something else was growing stronger too, an underlying wrongness that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The woods were too quiet, as if even the night creatures were afraid to make a sound.I had been walking for a while when I heard it.A low growl, barely audible above the whisper of wind through leaves.I froze, my hea
Last Updated : 2025-09-22 Read more