The sun was blinding for a Sunday afternoon, casting long, shimmering waves of heat over the empty asphalt.
The countryside stretched endlessly on both sides of the road, golden fields dotted with patches of dark green trees, their leaves rustling faintly in the occasional breeze.
Inside the car, the air was stifling despite the windows being cracked open, and Kara fidgeted in the passenger seat, tugging at the hem of her black tube top.
Her stonewashed denim mini skirt barely reached her thighs, and her cowboy hat sat askew on her wild auburn-red hair, which clung to her damp skin in all the wrong places.
Sweat trickled down her neck, slipping between her cleavage to rest on her belly button ring, its cool touch doing little to ease her discomfort.
"How long till we get there?" she drawled for the fifth time, her voice heavy with boredom and heat-induced irritation.
Her mom, Debby, shot her a sharp look, her absurdly bright blue eyes flashing with annoyance, a mirror image of Kara's own gaze.
"You've asked a thousand times, Kara, and I'll say it again: no."
"This is stupid," Kara snapped, crossing her arms and slumping back in her seat.
Debby's jaw tightened as she gripped the steering wheel harder. "We've been through this, young lady."
Kara rolled her eyes, her frustration boiling over. "Why do you have to move just because Dad died? It's not like you even liked him anyway."
"Watch your tone, young lady!" Debby barked, her knuckles whitening against the wheel.
"Or what? You literally hated him! Plus, I know he cheated on you, so don't try to paint him like some saint, Mom. I'm not stupid!"
Debby's grip on the steering wheel faltered for a moment before she regained control, her voice low and dangerous. "Who told you?"
Kara smirked, popping her gum as she closed her eyes. "Don't be nosy. Just know I know. Stop beating yourself up about it. Dad was a dick."
Tears glistened in Debby's eyes, her focus remaining on the road as she increased her speed. "Is that why you went and got a tattoo with piercings at just sixteen without my permission?"
"For one, I'm seventeen, I'll be eighteen in a couple of weeks. You even forgot my birthday," Kara muttered, the bite in her tone softer now.
Debby chewed her bottom lip, her voice barely a whisper. "Do you hate me?"
Kara shrugged, her gaze drifting to the hill up ahead. She didn't respond, instead letting herself slip into an uneasy sleep.
The woods were alive around her, dark and suffocating. The sharp scent of pine filled her lungs as she sprinted through the dense forest, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Blood trickled down her arm, staining her torn dress, and her bare feet were bruised and battered, stinging with every step.
Yellow eyes.
They glowed in the darkness, watching her, hunting her. Her heart pounded as she felt herself losing control, her body moving against her will toward the eyes.
No! Don't go there! her mind screamed. Stop, you'll die!
She gasped awake, clutching her chest as the nightmare faded. The car was still moving, the fields replaced by thick woods that blurred past the windows.
Her pulse quickened as she looked up, locking eyes with a figure outside the car. A tall man stood by the roadside, his piercing dark gaze holding hers through the window.
His black scarf and robe wrapped him like a shadow, and strands of dark hair fell messily over his brow, brushing against his long lashes.
His eyes swept over her from head to toe, leaving an almost tangible trail across her skin. Her cheeks flushed bright red, much to her annoyance.
"Are you okay, Kara? You look pale," Debby's voice broke through her thoughts, snapping her back to reality.
Running her fingers through her hair, she sat up straighter. "Yeah, just a bad dream."
"You shouldn't be here," the man said, his voice deep and commanding, cutting through the hum of the car.
Debby craned her neck to get a better look at him from the driver's seat, her brows furrowed. "And you are?"
He ignored her question, his tone sharp. "The woods are dangerous at night. Make sure you reach town before the sun sets."
Before they could respond, he disappeared down the road, his figure swallowed by the shadows of the trees.
"What was that about?" Debby muttered under her breath, her unease evident.