CHAPTER 13

Valerie's POV

Frustrated, fruitless, and defeated. Those were the only words that came to mind as I trudged through the forest, my feet heavy with the weight of my own hopelessness. I was losing hope, losing focus, and losing myself in the process.

Days had turned into weeks, and weeks were turning into month. And still, I had found nothing. No leads, no clues, no hints. Just an endless, exhausting cycle of searching and coming up empty-handed.

I thought of Rohan, and the way he had looked at me with such determination and conviction. I thought of the way he had promised to help me, to stand by me and support me on this journey.

But now, I couldn't help but wonder if I had been foolish to trust him. Foolish to think that he would be any different from the others.

I kicked at a rock on the ground, feeling a surge of anger and frustration. Why was this so hard? Why was it so impossible to find what I was looking for?

And then, I heard it. A faint rustling in the bushes. My heart skipped