The deeper they pushed, the more the forest slowly loosened its suffocating grip. The oppressive darkness thinned until faint streaks of early morning light filtered through the leaves. The shadows around them, once thick enough to choke, now retreated inch by inch. It was the first sign of safety they had seen since entering the nightmare.
Torren slowed and glanced upward. The faintest glow touched his face. His eyes widened with something close to relief. He whispered, almost in disbelief, “That is real light. We are close.”
Aria gasped softly. “We are really near the edge.”
Rika tightened her trembling grip on her water essence. “Then we can make it. We just need to keep going.”
Daniel looked over his shoulder into the dark path they came from. He felt the forest breathing. Not the
