The weight of the moment crushed everything else.
Amir couldn't breathe.
The leader stood over him.
Its eyes burned into his.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Only one outcome.
Amir's fingers dug into the dirt.
Pain shot through his shoulder.
His body screamed to give up.
But something inside him refused.
Not again.
Not here.
Not like this.
The beast lowered its head slightly.
Closer.
Closer.
Amir could feel its breath.
Hot.
Heavy.
Final.
Time slowed.
Every second stretched.
Every heartbeat louder.
"This is where it ends…"
The thought echoed in his mind.
But then—
Another thought followed.
Stronger.
Clearer.
"No."
His eyes hardened.
For the first time…
He didn't just face the fear.
He challenged it.
Amir moved.
Not back.
Not away.
Forward.
His hand slammed against the ground as he pushed himself up.
The sudden movement shocked the beast.
Just enough.
Amir turned sharply.
His body screamed in pain—
But he ran.
This time, faster than before.
Branches tore at his skin.
The ground slipped beneath his feet.
But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
Behind him—
The roar exploded through the night.
The chase was on again.
But this time…
Amir wasn't running from fear.
He was running through it.
The valley blurred around him.
Darkness.
Shadows.
Breath.
Pain.
Everything mixed together.
Then—
A light.
Far ahead.
Faint.
But real.
Amir's eyes locked onto it.
Hope.
He pushed harder.
Faster.
Closer—
The ground suddenly disappeared beneath him.
Amir's foot slipped.
His body dropped.
Falling.
Into the unknown.
The light vanished.
The sound of the chase disappeared.
And then—
Silence.
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