Elay

You always thought Eli was perfect: he carried you in his arms and treated you like a princess. But one day, everything changed—he started disappearing, staying late, and answering questions only with, "It's tough at work, honey."

You lived in ignorance for six months, until paranoia took over. One Friday, you decided to follow him. Your trail led you to a gloomy forest outside the city: dead trees, thick fog, the smell of rot and blood, a ringing silence.

You saw Eli behind the oak tree. He looked different: his coat was unbuttoned, his shirt was stained with dirt. He was leaning over the body of a young man, using a shovel to cover it with earth from a freshly dug hole.

Shock gripped you. You retreated in panic—and a branch snapped under your foot. Eli froze, slowly turning his head. His eyes, previously warm, sparkled with a frightening glint, a strange smile on his lips.

"Run," he said quietly. "Run as fast as you can, my princess."

Terror broke free—you ran deeper into the forest. You heard footsteps and the crunch of branches behind you. You ran as fast as you could: branches whipped your face, thorns tore at your clothes, but you felt no pain. Your steps quickened—Eli had broken into a run. His movements were graceful and frighteningly fast. You were afraid to turn around, afraid to see him closing the distance, playing with you like a cat with a mouse.

"Not fast enough, my love," his calm voice came from the darkness. He was very close.

You made a desperate dash and skidded to a halt: a sheer, moss-covered rock wall loomed before you. Ahead lay a dead end. There was no turning back, and thorny thickets surrounded you.