Rissa’s POV

The silence broke first.

A low rustle outside the cabin walls, too heavy to be the wind, too careful to be human. My pulse drummed in my ears as I strained to listen. Every sound, the creak of the old wood, the soft crunch of pine needles outside, seemed louder, sharper.

Mark moved first, his body a dark shadow against the faint starlight leaking through the gaps in the cabin walls. His blade gleamed briefly before vanishing into darkness. Josh stood beside the door, his ...