The forest had grown darker with the falling sun, shadows twisting around Emily and Alexander like living things. Every step forward was a battle between instinct and strategy. Emily's muscles ached from running, her hands still trembling from the surge of energy she had unleashed, but she refused to stop. The USB drive burned in her pocket, a constant reminder of what was at stake—the secrets her mother had left behind and the power hidden within the Knight family's empire.
Alexander's hand was firm on her arm, steadying her as they moved through the dense underbrush. His presence, normally a comfort, now felt like a tether. Emily wanted to run, to disappear into the darkness and leave the world behind, but she knew she couldn't. Not yet.
"Emily," Alexander said quietly, scanning the treeline, "we can't keep running in circles. The Knight family is relentless. They'll have trackers, surveillance… even the river won't stop them."
