The forest was a world of twisted shadows and tangled branches. The air was thick with damp earth and the faint scent of decay.
Raindrops clung stubbornly to the leaves above, dripping in uneven rhythms that seemed louder than they should have been.
The ground was a slick mess of mud, half-rotted leaves, and broken twigs, making every step treacherous.
Mist slithered through the trees, curling like ghostly fingers around trunks and stones.
The air was cold enough to bite, yet somehow still heavy, pressing down on their tired bodies like a weight they couldn't shake. Athena's sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.
The forest was eerily quiet, no birds, no insects, only the unsettling sound of distant footsteps, dragging heavily across the earth. Whatever it was, it wasn't human.
"Climb," Athena whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lisa's eyes widened, but she obeyed, grabbing the nearest sturdy branch and pulling herself up.
