NEVER AGAIN

ARIANNE POV

I woke up with a throbbing headache, the sunlight squinting down at me, the warmth a sharp contrast to the coolness of the forest floor. Blinking, I felt something wet on my face and groaned, my head throbbing with each movement. Despite the brightness above, the forest around me still seemed sad and gloomy, the shadows clinging to the trees like a heavy shroud. The air was heavy with a sense of foreboding, and a chill ran down my spine as I sat up, trying to shake off the remnants of a restless sleep.

As I tried to piece together the events of the previous day, I winced when I looked down and saw the wound on my stomach. It wasn't as bad as before, infact it was already healed, just the dried blood on it. But it still stung and throbbed with each heartbeat.