Knock! Knock!... Who's there?

Huff!

Huff!

"Huuh...huuh...huuh..." Evelyn's ragged breath echoed in the empty alley as she sprinted down the dimly lit street, her heart pounding in her chest. The echoes of Tristan's chilling laughter, and the sight of Avelina convulsing in pain, filled her mind, spurring her on. Her footsteps drummed on the cobblestones, a frantic rhythm in the otherwise silent night.

Her heart pounded in sync with each hurried step as she dashed through the alleys and bylanes, ducking in and out of the patchy shadows.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, making her vision blurry and distorting the once-familiar layout of the town. She wiped at her face repeatedly, hot tears stinging her cold, wind-kissed cheeks.

Evelyn was tired, her legs aching, her breaths labored, yet she couldn't afford to stop. Every flicker of a shadow, every stray gust of wind rustling the leaves made her heart pound in fear.