Dawn's POV
The forest was still dark when I continued walking. The air felt cold against my skin, and every breath I released came out slow and strained because I was thinking too much and trying not to panic. The trees towered on both sides of me, and the narrow path ahead was nothing more than a mix of shadows and soft soil. My shoes pushed through dried leaves, and the soft crackling sound felt too loud in the silence.
My bag was slung across my shoulder, slightly heavy because I packed almost everything my fear told me to take. Every few minutes I would stop, listen, and look around, just to be sure no one had followed me. I didn’t want anyone to stop me. I didn’t want anyone to try to drag me back.
But as I walked deeper into the woods, the quietness gave me too much space to think
