Chapter 44: Lion's Den

The eerie silence of the forest was shattered by Acheron’s taunting voice. “You can come out now, Kara.” It echoed through the trees, accompanied by the ominous cadence of his approaching footsteps.

Sensing the impending confrontation, Kara's instincts kicked in, and without a second thought, she sprang to her feet, making a desperate run for freedom.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Acheron’s voice, dripping with a sinister undertone, reached her ears as the sound of his footsteps growing increasingly nearer.

Breathless and fueled by fear, Kara risked a backward glance, attempting to gauge the distance between them. But in that fleeting moment, a sudden, sharp blow collided with the back of her head, violently spinning her around and sending her crashing to the ground.

“Not so much anyways,” he snickered, amplifying the menace of the situation.

Kara’s head was spinning, and she fought to keep her eyes open, so she could at least escape from him. She would not die here.