Athena made her decision. Even under the hammering rain and the sharp protests of the others, she stood firm. "I’m going back out."
Lisa gaped at her. "Are you insane? You just got back! The storm’s even worse now!"
"We don’t have a choice." Athena’s voice was steady, unwavering. "She’s getting worse. If that venom spreads, we’ll lose her."
Darren shook his head. "We don’t even know what stung her! You’re walking into danger blind."
Athena met his gaze. "I’ll take my chances."
The others fell silent, tension crackling between them like the lightning in the sky.
Marco finally sighed, rubbing a hand down his drenched face. "At least take someone with you."
"No," Athena said firmly. "I’ll move faster alone."
A fresh gust of wind ripped through the camp, rattling their shelters.
Athena pulled her hood tighter over her head and turned away before anyone could argue further. And then, she was gone.
The forest was an entirely different beast now. What was difficult before had become nearly impossible.
The downpour blurred everything, turning the terrain into an unforgiving battlefield.
Each step sank into thick, muddy ground. Her boots felt heavier with every movement, water seeping into the fabric, chilling her to the bone.
Thunder cracked violently overhead, shaking the very earth beneath her. Athena gritted her teeth and pressed forward.
She had one goal, to find herbs that could reduce swelling and pain. And if possible, something that could keep whatever insect had attacked the woman away.
She moved swiftly, scanning the trees, the undergrowth, relying on the same strange knowledge that had guided her before.
A part of her should have questioned it more. How did she know which plants to pick? How could she distinguish the safe from the deadly with such certainty?
But there was no time to doubt.
She spotted a cluster of broad-leafed plants clinging to a rock formation. Kneeling, she brushed her fingers over them, recognizing them instantly.
Good. This one worked against inflammation. She gathered them quickly, stuffing them into a pouch tied to her belt.
The wind howled through the trees, bending them at unnatural angles. Athena barely flinched. She pushed forward.
Her next search was for repellents. There had to be something, an herb, a root, anything, that could keep insects away. Then, she spotted it.
A vine draping over a fallen tree, its leaves small but pungent. She crushed one between her fingers and immediately recognized the sharp, almost citrus-like scent. This could work.
She took as much as she could carry, her fingers numb from the cold. Then she turned back. Or at least, she tried to. A deep, unnatural silence settled around her.
The storm raged on, yet the usual sounds of the forest, the distant rustling of leaves, the occasional cry of nocturnal creatures, had vanished.
Something was wrong. Athena stilled, scanning her surroundings. Her instincts screamed at her. She wasn’t alone. Then, movement. A shadow in the distance. Her breath hitched.
Slowly, she crouched, pressing herself against the trunk of a tree, muscles coiled and ready. She waited. The shadow shifted again, slow, deliberate. Not an animal.
Something, or someone, was watching her. She clenched her jaw, gripping the pouch of herbs tighter. Now wasn’t the time to engage.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
Moving carefully, she retraced her steps, never once turning her back on the unseen figure. Only when she was far enough did she finally break into a run. The forest blurred past her.
She didn’t stop until she saw the faint glow of campfires in the distance. Lisa was the first to spot her.
"Athena!" she rushed forward. "You’re..." Her words died when she saw Athena’s expression.
"You found something?" Darren asked, stepping closer.
Athena forced herself to focus. "I got what we need. But we’re not alone out there."
Marco frowned. "What do you mean?"
Athena shook her head. "I’ll explain later."
No time to dwell on the creeping unease in her gut.
She immediately knelt beside the unconscious woman, pulling out the anti-inflammatory leaves and crushing them into a paste.
Darren helped apply it to the swelling, carefully pressing it against the sting.
The woman’s breathing was still weak, but after a few moments, her expression shifted slightly. Less strained.
Good.
Lisa and Marco worked on spreading the repellent herbs around their shelters, rubbing them against fabric and laying them near sleeping areas.
Athena sat back, exhaling slowly. A few minutes passed. Then...
A soft sound. A groan. The woman stirred. Everyone tensed. Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused and hazy. "W-Where…?"
Darren moved closer. "You’re okay. Just breathe."
She blinked sluggishly, clearly disoriented. Then, she winced. Her hand weakly lifted toward her neck.
"The sting…" she rasped.
Athena steadied her. "Do you remember how you got it?"
The woman’s brow furrowed. She swallowed, trying to piece her thoughts together.
"I was…" She frowned, frustrated. "I don’t know. I just remember feeling something sharp. Then my body felt heavy."
Lisa exchanged a wary glance with Marco.
Darren sighed. "She needs rest. We’ll watch for any changes."
Athena nodded.
For now, they had done all they could. But something still didn’t sit right. She stood, moving to the edge of camp. Her eyes scanned the darkness beyond.
The storm was beginning to ease, but the wind still carried a chill that had nothing to do with the rain.
Something was out there. Watching. Waiting. And Athena had a feeling this was just the beginning.
Athena remained at the camp’s edge, her body tense, eyes locked onto the shifting darkness beyond the trees. The storm had weakened, but the unease in her gut only grew stronger.
Something was out there. She was sure of it. Behind her, the camp had quieted. The unconscious woman was resting, her breathing steadier.
Lisa and Marco murmured to each other in hushed voices, while Darren tended to the others still battling fever. But Athena couldn’t shake the feeling that their troubles weren’t over.
Then...
A faint sound. A rustle. Her breath hitched. Not the wind. Not an animal. Something, or someone, was moving just beyond their sight. She took a slow step forward, heart pounding.
Then, the whisper of movement vanished.
Silence.
Athena exhaled, gripping the knife at her belt. Whatever was lurking in the darkness…
It was still watching. And it wasn’t going away.