Meliza's POV
I hit the pavement hard, shoving past startled customers and flustered restaurant staff, my chest tightening with every quick, shallow gasp. Ahead, the hills loomed like ancient guardians. Without a second thought, I bolted for the refuge of the forest, leaving behind the clamor of the restaurant for the silent refuge of nature.
I tore into the undergrowth, the cool, damp shade of the forest enveloping me as I plunged deeper into its tangled embrace. Overhead, branches whispered secrets to one another, and leaves rustled softly in the breeze. Yet, all I could focus on was the rapid pounding of my footsteps and the loud pounding of my chest, a relentless metronome of fear and determination.
Then came the unmistakable sound of pursuit.
A sharp snap of a twig breaking underfoot echoed behind me, slicing through the forest's calm. A surge of raw, electric panic jolted through my veins in that instant. They were coming.