I always thought that people who claimed to be afraid of the dark were just overreacting. I mean, shadows are just shadows, right? But now, standing at the edge of the training ground, the looming trees outside remind me of vast, dark silhouettes, and I'm beginning to understand their point. Add in the possibility that those trees might shelter lumbering, furry giants, and my confidence has taken a backseat. To make matters worse, I was about to face a man who made me feel incredibly tiny and insecure, and not in the cute, "I have a secret crush" kind of way.
As I watched the group gather, I remembered Jayla's words, "I just want you to be safe. We can't afford to lose anyone else." A simple enough warning, but amid my rising panic, I couldn't shake the nausea gnawing at my stomach. It bu
