The forest held its breath. Moonlight spilled across the jagged ridges, silvering the trees and painting long, trembling shadows. Lia’s fingers brushed the strap of her bag, not from fear, but from instinct. Something was wrong. She could feel it—like a thread pulling at the edges of her awareness. Damien, walking just a step behind her, had his eyes on the path, scanning for any threat, but he didn’t sense it yet. He was confident. Overconfident. And Lia didn’t have the heart to tell him she could see the flicker in the shadows—the movement that didn’t belong. A rustle. Just a whisper, but enough to make Lia freeze mid-step. “Lia?” Damien’s voice was low, steady, protective. He stopped, his gaze sweeping the clearing. “You’re quiet. Did something happen?” She forced a laugh, shaking her head. “Just… the wind, maybe.” But the shadow didn’t move like the wind. It moved with purpose. Slow, deliberate, watching them from the edge of the forest. Her pulse quickened. A warning tighte
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