Painful

EMERY

My heart pounds in my chest, a cacophony of fear and desperation. Adrenaline courses through my veins, propelling me forward as I run through the darkness, tears streaming down my face. Every step is a painful reminder of the chaos extending and the dangers that have pursued us relentlessly. But I can't stop. I won't stop.

Arwan's voice echoes in my mind, his plea to stay safe a haunting whisper that spurs me on. I've promised him that I'll do whatever it takes to survive, to escape the clutches of this nightmare. My breath comes in ragged gasps, my lungs burning with the effort, but I push through the pain. A fire within me, a determination that refuses to be extinguished.

I can't afford to look back, can't afford to second-guess. Every rustle of leaves, every distant sound—it all sends a jolt of fear through me. My senses are on high alert, every instinct screaming that danger is close behind.