Chapter 23

"T-Thank you, Hazel!" I whispered, groaning in pain while we were running towards the heart of the forest.

"Just stay calm. We can get out of here, Nat..." she whispered.

The forest around us was alive with the sounds of the night, but above it all, I could hear the ominous crack of gunfire slicing through the air.

My heart raced, thumping violently against my ribcage, as if it too was desperate to escape the horror we found ourselves in.

Hazel and I were running for our lives, our breaths coming out in sharp, ragged gasps that mingled with the cold night air.

Hazel had my arm draped over her shoulder, providing the support I desperately needed to keep moving.

Each step was a battle, a fight against the pain that wracked my body with every movement. But Hazel’s unwavering strength was a beacon of hope in the overwhelming darkness.

"We can't stop, Nathalie," Hazel gasped, her voice a mix of determination and fear. "We have to keep moving, no matter what."

"I know," I replied through