(Ryan’s POV)
The rain had slowed to a drizzle, but everything was still soaked—the air thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, the ground slick with mud. My breath stayed steady, the rhythmic thud of my feet against the wet trail matching the patter of raindrops hitting the leaves above.
I liked running in the woods. Even in the rain. Maybe especially in the rain. It was quiet, empty. Just me and the trail stretching ahead, the faint pre-dawn light filtering through the dense trees.
Water dripped from the brim of my cap as I adjusted it, shaking off the excess. The lightweight running jacket I wore did its job, keeping most of the rain off, but the damp still clung to my skin.
This route was familiar. One of my usual trails, looping through the trees before cutting back toward tow
