Chapter one hundred twenty eight

The Mountain That Wasn't

Alina had always imagined a mountain as, well… a mountain. You know, something big, rocky, and inconvenient to climb. But last month, when she followed Susan deep into the woods, she realized the so-called "mountain" had nothing to do with towering peaks or snowy summits.

That night was weird. Midnight air hung thick with the scent of damp earth, and the wind whispered through the trees like it had secrets it wasn't ready to share. They had just parted ways with Dana and the rest—Emma didn't come, which, in hindsight, should've been her first clue that this wasn't a normal trip. It was just her and Susan now, trekking further and further into the forest like two lunatics chasing a ghost.