Kaden's legs pounded against the uneven forest floor, the woods stretching endlessly before him like a labyrinth of salvation. Every stride sent jolts of pain shooting up his legs, his torn boot offering little protection against the sharp rocks and gnarled roots hidden beneath the soil. The soles of his feet screamed in agony, but he couldn't stop—not with the soldiers' voices echoing behind him.
"Stop! You can't run forever!" one shouted, his tone laced with authority.
But Kaden didn't listen. He couldn't. His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest burning with every intake of the cool night air. Sweat dripped into his eyes, blurring his vision as he dodged low-hanging branches and leapt over fallen logs. The forest felt alive, its shadows shifting and twisting as if mocking his desperate flight.
"Just a little further," he told himself, though he had no destination in mind. Every step was fueled by raw survival.