The next day.
Darkness swallowed Pine Mountain whole. The forest stood silent beneath a silver moon, tall pines swaying as a cold wind cut through the air.
Winter was approaching, its cold breath sharp enough to sting the skin.
But the two figures racing through the woods did not seem to feel the cold.
They moved faster than the human eye could follow.
Shadows darting between trees. A blur of black against moonlight.
The crunch of frost beneath their boots was the only proof they were even there.
Half a mile from their destination, they stopped.
Ethan Wright stood atop a boulder partially hidden by branches. His breathing was steady. His expression was calm as his eyes stared ahead.
Beside him, Ren crouched with feline grace, her long dark hair tied back. Her eyes gleamed like a predator who had already tasted victory.
A modern cabin stood ahead, its large glass windows glowing warmly in the night. Smoke drifted from a chimney.
