Chapter 3: The Viscous Entity

The forest grew darker as the last rays of sunlight faded, but Damon kept running, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he scanned the shadows for somewhere to hide. Behind him, angry voices echoed through the trees, each shout tinged with malice.

He could hear Marcus, urging the others on with vicious excitement, and worst of all, Lark's enraged voice, still raw from the blow Damon had delivered to his crotch. 'If they catch me.

I'm dead.' Damon pushed himself further into the dense woods, stumbling over a protruding root and crashing face-first into the dirt. His bones ached, his eyes still stinging from earlier tears, and his palms, raw from the relentless training, burned as he struggled back to his feet.