Chapter 46: Desperate Flight

Moonlight, dappled by the skeletal branches of ancient oaks, cast long, grasping shadows that seemed to mimic Ava's frantic dash across the rooftops. Her lungs burned with each ragged breath, the rhythmic thud of pursuing footsteps a relentless drumbeat in her ears.The old house, once a familiar sanctuary, now loomed behind her like a malevolent giant. Had they seen her escape? She couldn't look back. Fear propelled her forward, her bare feet landing on moss-covered shingles that threatened to give way at any moment.Below, the sprawling estate was a maze of dark shapes – trees, hedges, and outbuildings. Ava vaguely recalled a hidden pathway her grandmother used to show her, a narrow trail leading deep into the woods behind the house. It was a long shot, a childhood memory shrouded in the mists of time, but it was her only hope.Reaching the edge of the roof, Ava launched herself into the unknown. A thick canopy of leaves caught her fall, breaking the impact with a shower of twigs and dust. Scrambling to her feet, she stumbled deeper into the woods, the darkness a thick cloak around her.The rhythmic footfalls seemed distant now, muffled by the undergrowth. Perhaps she had lost them. But the thought offered little comfort. This forest, once a place of childhood wonder, now felt like a labyrinth of menacing shadows and unseen eyes.Suddenly, a gnarled root tripped her, sending her sprawling. Pain shot through her ankle, a sharp counterpoint to the pounding in her chest. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring the already indistinct path ahead. Despair threatened to engulf her.Just as she was about to give in, a faint memory flickered. Her grandmother, weathered hands pointing at a particular cluster of trees - three ancient oaks with their branches twisted skyward like clawing fingers. That was the landmark, the gateway to the hidden path.Gripping the locket around her neck, a surge of determination coursed through her. She couldn't give up. Not now. Pushing the pain aside, Ava forced herself to her feet, the three oaks her beacon, her only hope in the encroaching darkness.