Act I, Chapter 1: Forest

The forest was a blur around you, a tangled mess of shadows and twisted branches that clawed at your skin as you ran.

Your breath came in ragged gasps, each one burning your throat as you pushed yourself harder, faster, your heart pounding in your chest like a drum.

You didn't dare look back; you couldn't afford to.

Whatever was chasing you, whatever you'd unleashed with that deal, was close— too close.

The night was falling fast, the last remnants of daylight swallowed by the thick canopy above. The darkness seemed alive, pressing in on you from all sides, making the forest even more disorienting. Every step was a gamble, every breath a struggle as you stumbled through the underbrush, your feet catching on roots and rocks that seemed to materialize out of nowhere.

A branch whipped across your face, leaving a stinging line of pain in its wake, but you didn't slow down. You couldn't. Fear was the only thing driving you forward now, overriding the exhaustion that threatened to drag you down.

Your legs felt like lead, your muscles screaming for relief, but the terror clawing at your mind wouldn't let you stop.

Not yet.

Not when you could still hear the rustle of leaves, the snap of twigs somewhere behind you— evidence that you were not alone in the darkness.

You cursed under your breath, a mixture of frustration and panic. How had it come to this?

You'd known the risks, the warnings that echoed in your mind like a bad omen, but desperation had clouded your judgment. Now you were paying the price, and you weren't sure how much longer you could hold out.

The forest seemed endless, a labyrinth of shadows and whispers that offered no refuge, no escape.

Your lungs burned with every gulp of air, the sharp scent of pine and earth filling your senses, but it did little to calm the wild beat of your heart. You stumbled again, your foot catching on an unseen root, and you barely managed to keep yourself upright.

A sharp pain shot through your ankle, but you ignored it, gritting your teeth as you forced yourself to keep moving.

You weren't even sure what you were running from— only that it was something you couldn't face, something you weren't prepared to fight.

The deal you'd made had seemed like a solution at the time, a way out of the mess you'd found yourself in.

But now, as the darkness closed in around you, it felt more like a curse, a weight you couldn't escape.

The night air grew colder, a chill that seeped into your bones, making you shiver despite the sweat dripping down your face.

The adrenaline that had fueled your flight was starting to wane, replaced by a creeping fatigue that made your limbs heavy, your movements sluggish. You were slowing down, and you knew it.

Then, out of nowhere, the ground disappeared beneath your feet.

You let out a strangled cry as you tumbled forward, the world spinning around you as you hit the ground hard. Pain exploded in your head, white-hot and blinding, and for a moment, everything went dark.

When you came to, the first thing you noticed was the silence. The forest, which had been alive with the sounds of your frantic escape, was now eerily quiet.

The only thing you could hear was the faint rustle of leaves, the distant call of an owl. The pounding in your head matched the throb of pain in your ankle, and you grimaced as you tried to move.

Your body felt like it had been put through a wringer, every muscle screaming in protest as you forced yourself to sit up.

The world swam before your eyes, a dizzying blur of shapes that made your stomach churn. You reached up, gingerly touching the spot on your head where you'd hit it, and winced at the sticky warmth that met your fingers.

Blood.

You blinked, trying to clear the haze from your mind as you struggled to your feet.

The forest around you seemed different now, more menacing, the shadows deeper, the air heavier. Your instincts screamed at you to move, to run, but your body refused to cooperate. Every step was a battle, every breath a reminder of just how close you'd come to the edge.

And then you heard it— a sound that made your blood run cold. A low, guttural growl, coming from somewhere in the darkness.

Panic surged through you, giving you the strength to move, to force your aching body into motion.

But it was too late.

Whatever was out there, whatever had been chasing you, was close. Too close. And this time, you knew there was no escaping it.

With one last burst of energy, you tried to run, but your ankle gave out beneath you, sending you crashing to the ground.

The world tilted, and you felt the impact as your head struck something hard, the pain sharp and immediate. Darkness rushed in, and this time, there was no fighting it.

As consciousness slipped away, the last thing you heard was the sound of footsteps approaching, and a feminine voice— low, soothing, and full of promises you knew better than to believe.