Chapter 139: The Unseen Threat

By the time Caitlin arrived at the nearest village, dawn had already begun to streak the sky with hues of pink and gold. She was utterly exhausted, having fought off the fatigue that always crept over her during the day. But this exhaustion was deeper, more intense—fueled by the gnawing fear of leaving Zendedari unprotected, vulnerable, while she made the trip to gather supplies. Her thoughts raced as she parked her truck at the small petrol station and slid out of the cab. She needed herbs, fuel, sutures, and most importantly—blood. Whole blood. The village was still waking up, with only a few early risers milling about. The streets were mostly empty, save for a few birds chirping in the distance. Caitlin’s senses were on high alert. She leaned against the truck, scanning her surroundings as she filled its tank and the reserve containers for her generator. Something felt off. She couldn’t see anyone, but a prickling sensation ran up her spine as if unseen eyes were tracking her every