The trees were twisted and gnarled, their branches clawing at the sky. Rain dripped from the leaves, splattering against their faces as they moved deeper into the woods.
Then, they heard it, faint and chilling, a voice calling weakly for help.
"That's her!" Lisa said, hurrying forward.
Athena grabbed her arm. "Wait…"
The voice came again, closer this time. But something about it felt... wrong. It was too steady, too controlled, like someone mimicking a cry for help.
"We need to go back," Athena said firmly.
But before they could turn around, something moved behind them, a dark shape slithering between the trees.
"Run!" Athena shouted.
They bolted through the forest, their footsteps splashing in the mud. Branches scraped their faces, and the wind howled louder, masking the sound of whatever was chasing them.
The path twisted, and suddenly Athena found herself at the edge of a deep ravine. Lisa stumbled behind her, panting.
"What… what was that?" Lisa gasped.
