"Max, do you ever wonder… if we're meant to survive this?" Sarah's voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it held a heavy sadness.
Max looked at her, his brows furrowed as they walked down the narrow path leading away from the forest. The sunlight was just beginning to rise over the horizon, painting the sky in soft colors. Yet, for both of them, the morning held no peace.
"Don't think like that, Sarah," Max replied, his voice firm but kind. "We've come this far. We can't start doubting ourselves now."
But even as he said the words, Max couldn't deny the weight pressing on his heart. The strange figure they had met in the forest, the creatures that lurked in the shadows, and the loss of Alex—all of it haunted him.
Sarah looked down, kicking at a small pebble as they walked. "It's just… every time we think we're safe, something else comes out to drag us back. I feel like we're running in circles, never really getting anywhere."