Flora stood in the heart of the Forest of Death. The trees here seemed to lean in, their twisted branches clawing at the moonless sky. She was exactly where Gabriel had instructed her to be.
She checked her phone again for time. Just as she moved to tuck it away, the bushes to her left exploded with movement. She looked up, her breath hitching, to see Alex emerging from the shadows. He looked different, his skin was unnervingly pale, and his eyes held a necrotic glint that she didn't notice in the morning.
Before she could even unlock her phone to signal Gabriel, Alex lunged. With a snarl, he snatched the device from her hand and hurled it against a jagged rock. Not satisfied, he ground his heavy boot into the screen, crushing the device.
"You told everything to Gabriel, didn't you?" Alex barked. "You thought you could lead that fucker straight to me?"
