Chapter 254

Hera glanced over her shoulder at the closing SUV and the oversized wolfdog. Without breaking her stride, she quickly scanned her surroundings and dashed toward the densest part of the forest. Suddenly, she spotted three or four fallen trees blocking the path ahead. Their trunks were crisscrossed with vines. After adjusting her breath, she sprinted toward them. Using one hand to vault herself over a tree trunk, she gracefully dodged the vines and wove through the scattered trees. The SUV screeched to a halt in front of the trunks. The men inside jumped out, but the wolfdog leaped over the trees before they could react and continued chasing Hera. "Eric, should we keep following her? She's heading into the deep mountains!" Brian's voice quivered with fear. Years ago, Brian had cut down those trees to mark the boundary. Beyond this point lay danger—wild, ferocious animals and an ancient, haunted graveyard that the villagers avoided at all costs. Brian had once dismissed these fears