Chasing Adrianna

ffered. She walked through the woods, her feet light on the earth, her mind a tangled knot of thoughts she never let anyone see. The air was cool, crisp with t

lone. Alone in the sile

s stretching up toward the sky, twisting and bending like skeleta

the one who had been meant to care for her-could leave her in the wilderness, to fend for h

the thoughts. She was not a child anymore.

for her to catch them. She was always on the edge of something, always fighting to keep her head above water. She k

by an unsettling silence that crept over her like a shadow. The

he back of her

't alone

he corner of her vision. Her heart skipped a beat, a cold shiver crawling

hin

mistakable sound of a b

rm and yanking her backwards, pinning her against a thick trunk. Her breath was stole

The scent of dirt and sweat overwhelmed her senses, but it was t

ay calm. Think. Fight.* The thoughts flashed in her mind like the strobe of a warning light. She planted her feet,

with amusement as his grip tightened. "Didn't think a little thing l

and jerked, but his hold remained unyielding. Fear clamped down on her chest

er chest, but she focused every ounce of energy on breaking free. The fore

, his eyes gleaming with malice as he approached. He c

ith amusement. "Not many get so far in without us noticing. But you'v

king captives from the woods and selling them off to the highest bidder. She knew what they did

slip her hand free, reaching for the hidden dagger tucked into the waistband of her tatt

econd hunter who was closing in on her. She pulled the

ing again. "You think that's going to help you? You've g

a snarled, her voic

nd hunter was faster, grabbing her wrist mid-swing and twisting h

er chest pressed hard against it. She couldn't move. She couldn't fight them anymore. Her

rs," the first hunter muttered, his

th rough rope. The terror of what was coming next gnawed at her insides, but she couldn

with something cold and predatory. "Let's get

*They're taking me. They're t

rees, each step deeper into the forest, further from any semblance of

choice but

vive sh