Chapter 67: A Dance of Shadows.

The silvery light of the full moon filtering through the canopy shortly fell on the earth, flickering an otherworldly glow onto the forest floor. Chloe glided with grace, nothing short of a sprite, her footsteps gentle but audible as she slipped over the bed of fallen leaves and moss. A snap of a twig in the distance and Chloe froze; every muscle tensed in her body, like a coiled spring. Her heart thudded at her chest, but even the sound of her own breath seemed deafening amidst the soundless night. Every sense was strained, trying to catch a whiff of danger. She asked, with a little tremble in her voice, "Who is there?". But that was all she said, and Chloe took it upon herself to breathe in a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Not a stranger to the woods, there was something calling to her about this night—an unspoken excitement hung in the air and made her feel as if her own skin buzzed with anticipation. "Get a grip, Chloe," she berated herself. "You've walked through these