POV: Zina
My lungs burned as I staggered forward, my legs feeling like they were made of lead. Every inch of me ached, but I couldn't stop—not yet. Not when I could still hear the distant sounds of pursuit, faint but persistent.
The narrow passage we'd squeezed through opened into a small valley, surrounded by jagged cliffs. The moon barely touched the ground here, the thick canopy overhead swallowing most of the light. It was eerie, too quiet, like the kind of place where shadows had a mind of their own.
I bent over, planting my hands on my knees as I tried to catch my breath. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, but I forced myself to listen—to the rustling of unseen creatures, to the whispering wind. The guards weren't close. Not yet. But they would be soon.
Behind me, the stranger stood like he hadn't just run for his life. He wasn't even breathing hard. His posture was completely relaxed, like this was just another night for him.
I didn't trust him. Not even a little.
