Long Chapter
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The further they traveled, the quieter the world became.
Not peaceful quiet empty quiet.
The trees thinned into tall, skeletal shapes, their branches stripped bare as if something had drained the life from them. The sky above dulled into a constant gray, light struggling to break through the thick veil of clouds. Even the air felt heavier, pressing faintly against the lungs with every breath.
Nicole stirred.
Her eyes opened slowly, but the moment she became aware of her surroundings, something in her chest tightened.
"…Jasper."
He was already looking out the window.
"We're close," he said.
Nicole straightened slightly, her gaze shifting past him toward the outside. The land had changed completely. What once felt like a journey now felt like a crossing into something that didn't want them there.
A shiver ran down her spine.
"I don't like this," she admitted quietly.
Jasper didn't dismiss it. "You're not supposed to."
