Among the figures, Samantha recognized the traveler from the diary. His features were marked by the harshness of the wild and a frustration that seemed to radiate from him. Close behind, his accomplices emerged, equipped with nets and the tools of their trade.
The voice that broke the silence was laced with mockery, a deliberate provocation as his gaze locked onto hers. Samantha’s grip on the knife tightened, its cold metal a stark reminder of her vulnerability and the slim odds she was up against. In that moment, the weapon was both a lifeline and a stark symbol of the dangers that lay in wait.