Mia walked for a long time, letting her feet follow the wind's path. She wandered through the streets, desperately trying to fill her mind with anything other than Lara's painful echoes. The air was still warm, bathed in golden light, but it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside her.
Eventually, she reached a park. The wind rustled the leaves of the trees, and in the distance, children's laughter rang out. Mia took in her surroundings, absorbing the peaceful atmosphere. Yet, despite the tranquility of the place, an odd sensation crept into her.
A shiver ran down her spine. She felt like she was being watched.
She glanced around, but there was no one. Was it just her imagination? A sigh escaped her lips, and she shrugged before continuing her walk. Yet, the feeling persisted, making her tense at every suspicious rustle.
Leaving the main path, she ventured down a tree-lined trail leading toward the forest's edge. The urge to explore pushed her forward, despite the growing unease tightening her stomach.
There, between the gnarled trunks and shifting shadows, a deep growl rumbled.
She froze, her heart pounding violently.
A creature emerged from the darkness—a silhouette of pure black, like a living shadow. From its sockets burned two glowing red eyes, smoldering like embers. Twisted horns rose from its skull, giving it a demonic appearance. Long, glistening claws extended from its hands, ready to tear apart anything in their path.
Panic seized Mia as she took a step back, but the shadow advanced slowly, relentless. Its breath was ragged, almost animalistic, and its aura exuded an oppressive darkness.
Instinct took over.
She spun around and bolted through the forest, ignoring the branches whipping her face. Behind her, the creature pursued, its growl echoing in her ears.
She ran blindly, desperately searching for a way out, but the forest seemed endless. Then, her foot caught in a vine, and she crashed to the ground.
A cry escaped her as she struggled to free herself. She tugged at the vine, frantically trying to break loose, while the creature closed in—now accompanied by two more identical beings.
Panting, she grabbed a stone and hurled it with all her strength. The object passed right through the creature, leaving it unaffected.
Her blood ran cold.
The shadows closed in, encircling their prey.
Frustrated and terrified, she seized more objects and threw them one by one. Each disappeared into nothingness as if they had never existed.
— Help! she screamed desperately.
But no one answered.