A tense, suffocating silence hung between them. No one dared to breathe too loudly, afraid that whatever lurked in the forest would hear them.
The distant, inhuman sound still echoed in their minds, an eerie reminder that they were no longer alone. Athena's heart pounded, her fingers clenched into fists.
Lisa, Darren, and Marco exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions shifting from confusion to fear. Their survival instincts screamed at them to move.
Then, in a barely audible whisper, Athena spoke. "Run."
No one hesitated. They bolted through the trees, their footsteps light but swift. The wind rushed past them, carrying the scent of damp earth and rotting leaves.
The world around them blurred as they ran, every rustling branch, every shifting shadow setting off their paranoia. None of them looked back. They didn't need to.
The weight of unseen eyes pressed heavily upon their backs, an invisible presence urging them to move faster.
