LILYA
The sight of the masked men sent shivers down my spine, their menacing presence suffocating. Fear gripped me, squeezing my chest in a vice-like hold. I knew I was in imminent danger, every instinct screaming at me to find a way out.
Then, their leader approached, his steps deliberate and predatory. He raised a hand, his fingers brushing against my skin, and a strange sensation washed over me. I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest, as he leaned in and sniffed the air around me. It was so bizarre, so utterly unsettling, that I couldn't find the words to protest.
He removed his mask, revealing a face that was unexpectedly handsome, though weathered by time. Lines etched deep into his skin spoke of a life lived in the heart of the forest, of battles fought and won.
In a hoa
