The forest had never been silent. Not really. Even in the dead of night, there was always something—whispering wind, rustling leaves, the distant hoot of an owl.
But now?
It was wrong.
The air hung thick, pressing against Makayla’s skin, making every breath feel heavier. The wind had stopped. The leaves were still. The usual nighttime chorus of insects had vanished.
She didn’t want to say it out loud.
Didn’t want to acknowledge what it meant.
But she knew.
Gino wasn’t just following them.
He was changing something. Manipulating the space around them. Not just physically—mentally.
Mikhail was walking too fast now. His strides were longer, more forceful, like he was trying to outrun the feeling crawling up his spine. His jaw was clenched so tight Makayla swore she heard his teeth gr
