Chapter 039
Emilia's POV
As I enter the Forest of Dread, the air is heavy with darkness. The soil sticks to my boots like the forest itself is trying to engulf me as my feet sink into the damp ground. The trees are gnarled and twisted, their branches scratching at the sky like long fingers. Here, time itself appears distorted, as if the minutes are bending and stretching. I can practically hear the whispers of the forest, entangled in the wind, whispering secrets that should remain hidden. But for now, the trail that leads me deeper—the ash, the blood—is all that matters.
Each step is heavier than the last as I follow it with a heart full of fear. Fear tightens my chest, causing my breath to be ragged and my pulse to pound in my ears. Even before I see her, I can sense her presence. It
