Branches and twigs snapped beneath Lilith's feet as she tore through the forest, her breath ragged, the pain in her head now a dull, constant throb. It was a miracle she hadn't fallen—this part of the forest was thick and overgrown, the trees so densely packed they swallowed the moonlight whole, plunging her path into near-complete darkness.
Her lungs burned. Her heart pounded so violently she could hear it in her ears, thudding like a drum. She had no idea how long she'd been running, only that her legs were failing her and her vision had begun to blur at the edges.
She couldn't go any farther. If she did, she would collapse.
Desperately scanning her surroundings, she spotted a thick tree with a hollow at its base, camouflaged by a heap of dried leaves. Without hesitation, she sprinted to it, dropped to her knees, and forced herself into the narrow space. Curling her body tightly, she held her breath and stilled her limbs.
Every nerve in her body screamed for silence.
