Chapter 50 The Shadows

• The oppressive weight of the forest pressed in on all sides as Ethan led the way, his hand still gripping Sophia's tightly. The sound of footsteps in the distance had grown fainter, but the tension had not dissipated. Sophia's heart raced with every hurried step, her mind still reeling from the kiss they had just shared.
• Lily stumbled slightly over a tree root, and Sophia reached out to steady her, whispering reassurances to her sister despite the growing sense of dread that gnawed at her insides. For days now, they had been running, hiding, but never escaping. It felt as though danger lurked behind every tree, every shadow.
• "How far do you think they are?" Lily whispered, her voice trembling.