After the initial shock wore off, Alessia tightened her grip on Janice, who groaned as a series of unwanted thoughts enveloped her upon contact. Biting her lower lip, she focused her eyes on the creature."I have no idea," Janice replied unsteadily, trying to keep the fear out of her voice, though she doubted it went unnoticed. "But I hope we don't get eaten by them."Janice intended it as a joke, but Alessia's eyes narrowed as she took it to heart. "Let's get the hell out of here," Alessia exclaimed, and Janice nodded in agreement.However, before they could make their escape, the beasts merged in an instant, united in their cause, and pounced upon them without hesitation. Janice's voice caught in her throat as she was lifted off the ground."Stop!" Alessia's scream pierced the air, and Janice's eyes widened in response.They were firmly trapped within the creature's grip, tossed about in the air. Janice groaned, feeling her stomach churn and vomit surge up her throat. She attempted

Thalia wandered through the forest as she continued her search. Her clothes were torn in different spots from constantly being caught in poking branches, and her shoes were discarded, leaving her trudging around barefooted. Her hair was a mess, and patches of dirt stained her skin.Yet, she persevered.As she ventured deeper, her nose wrinkled as a strange stench wafted into her nostrils, and she pinched the bridge of her nose. "What the hell?" She muttered.Thalia paused and took a moment to inhale the air, trying to discern the source of the smell. It seemed familiar, yet she couldn't quite grasp what it was exactly. Another sniff and then realisation dawned on her.It was the smell of blood!The strong, metallic odour of fresh blood filled the air, assaulting her nostrils. But what was it coming from? Had an animal died? No, it wasn't an animal."An animal's scent wouldn't be as strong as this," she mumbled.Deep down, she knew the scent wasn't coming from a stray deer shot to deat

Blaze reentered the room where Arabella sat, his annoyance from the encounter with Thalia was still discernible. His gaze swept the room, immediately fixing on Arabella. She occupied a carved wooden chair by the window, her white hair cascading over her shoulders in gentle waves, radiating a timeless beauty.Despite the displeasure that lingered after his exchange with Thalia, Blaze felt his tense shoulders gradually easing as he approached Arabella. Her mere presence had a soothing influence on him, a fact he cherished.Noticing Orga's absence in the room, along with the unfamiliar winged men whose names eluded him, Blaze didn't bother seeking such information; he considered it unimportant. Similarly, Thalia was clearly missing, which surprised him as he half-expected her to still be present.His thoughts wandered to her possible whereabouts. Nonetheless, he figured that her unfamiliarity with the surroundings would likely keep her from venturing far. Moreover, the concealed phoenixe

Arabella scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to escape from Sandro. She stumbled over a stray branch and nearly fell but managed to regain her balance before he could lunge toward her, effectively blocking her path.In a sudden burst of aggression, Sandro grabbed her by the hair, yanking her back with such force that Arabella felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Gasping in pain, she staggered backward, her head spinning from the abrupt impact.Before she could fully gather her senses, Sandro thrust her against a nearby tree, her body colliding with its rough bark. The coarse surface scraped her skin, leaving her feeling vulnerable and exposed.Sandro's hot breath prickled on Arabella's neck as he snarled. His fingers traced her cheek in a way that made her skin crawl."Why did you think you could escape me?" Sandro's voice dripped with cold menace; his eyes narrowed with fury.Her heart raced as she grasped the grim reality - she was trapped, and San

Arabella's eyes slowly fluttered open, and she squinted against the blinding sun overhead. The heat bore down oppressively, causing sweat to pool immediately beneath her shirt.The air around her was dry, hot, and arid — all signs pointed to her being in a desert. Panic ignited within her like a fire, and she frantically surveyed her surroundings for any hint of civilization but encountered nothing but endless sand.Her throat felt parched; her saliva was beginning to thicken. Soon, it seemed there wouldn't be enough moisture left for her to swallow."Shit!" She gritted her teeth, tapping her pocket. She slipped her hand into it, searching for only God knows what.Yet, she found nothing that could aid her. Arabella considered walking yet remained uncertain about the right direction.It wasn't until she stood up that she noticed the peculiar figure in the distance, resembling the silhouette of a familiar figure — Blaze."Blaze!" Her heart surged with hope, and she sprinted toward him,