The sun was already setting when Desiree finally came out from the woods.

Her boots crunched softly against fallen leaves as she stepped past the forest boundary, slowly, careful not to add too much pressure to her wounded leg.

The square was no longer crowded.

People were already dispersing. Many of them had clearly come to their conclusions hours ago.

She didn’t need to hear them to know what they were thinking.

She failed.

She didn’t make it out.

The forest took her.

Some probably ...