The Wild Chase
Emma’s legs burned as she ran through the glowing forest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She could hear Kain behind her—his footsteps unnervingly quiet, yet she felt his presence like a predator stalking its prey.
She ducked under low-hanging branches, her eyes darting around for something, anything, that could give her an edge. A hiding place, a weapon, even a sharp rock—anything would do.
Emma
I have to keep going. I can’t let him catch me again.
But no matter how fast she ran, the faint rustle of leaves behind her never faded.
Her name rolled off his tongue like a warning, deep and steady.
Kain
You’re only making this harder for yourself.
Emma gritted her teeth and pushed herself harder. The glowing light of the trees cast shifting shadows, playing tricks on her vision. Suddenly, her foot caught on something—a thick root jutting out from the ground.
She tumbled forward, landing hard on her hands and knees. Pain shot through her palms, but she scrambled to her feet, refusing to give up.
Behind her, Kain sighed. The sound was almost amused, though there was a note of exasperation in it.
Kain
You’re relentless, I’ll give you that.
Emma didn’t respond. She spotted a narrow gap between two large, glowing tree trunks up ahead and sprinted toward it. Sliding through the gap, she found herself in a small, enclosed clearing surrounded by thick foliage.
Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath.
Emma
Maybe he won’t find me here. Maybe I can lose him for good.
She crouched low, pressing herself against the base of a tree. The silence of the forest was deafening, and every faint rustle of leaves sent her heart racing.
Then, she heard it—the soft crunch of soil underfoot.
Kain
You’re quick, Emma. I’ll give you that. But you still don’t understand how this world works, do you?
Emma held her breath, her fingers digging into the bark of the tree. She refused to let him intimidate her, but her body betrayed her fear.
Kain’s voice grew closer, the low rumble sending shivers down her spine.
Kain
You think you can hide from me? In my territory?
The underbrush parted, and there he was, standing tall and unbothered, as if the chase had been a leisurely stroll for him. His glowing amber eyes locked onto hers, and his lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile.
Kain
You’re persistent. I like that about you
Kain caught the rock mid-air, his movements unnervingly quick. He examined it for a moment before tossing it aside.
Kain
And you’re feisty. That’ll serve you well in this world.
Emma’s hands clenched into fists.
Emma
You don’t own me. I don’t care how strong or fast you are—you can’t just decide what happens to me!
Kain tilted his head, his expression unreadable.
Kain
You don’t understand, Emma. I’m not doing this for me—I’m doing this for you.
He took a step closer, and Emma’s back hit the tree.
Emma
You’re just like every other controlling—
Her words were cut off as Kain leaned in, his hands braced on either side of her. His amber eyes burned with intensity, and his voice dropped to a low, dangerous whisper.
Emma froze, her breath catching in her throat.
Kain
You can fight me all you want. Run, scream, throw whatever you can get your hands on. But it won’t change the fact that you need me to survive here. I won’t hurt you, Emma. But I also won’t let you put yourself in danger because you’re too stubborn to accept the truth.
His words were firm, but there was something in his tone—something raw and unyielding that made Emma’s resolve falter. She wanted to argue, to push him away, but she couldn’t deny the weight of his words.
Emma’s thinking
Emma
Why does he care so much? Why won’t he just let me go?
Kain stepped back, his gaze never leaving hers.
Kain
You’ll see, Emma. You’ll understand soon enough.
Without another word, he turned and began walking away, leaving her standing in the clearing, her heart racing.
Emma stared after him, torn between frustration and confusion. She didn’t understand him, and that terrified her more than anything else.
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