Olivia gasped in pain, her body losing strength, half-kneeling on the ground.
Sweat dripped heavily. The fear dissipated, and she immediately grew tense, raising the Short Dagger again, vigilant of her surroundings, but there was nothing in the empty branching path.
Only her alone.
Olivia was momentarily dazed; if not for that chill still lingering in her heart, she might have thought that everything that had just happened was a mere illusion.
Just as she was bewildered, a series of urgent barking came from the street corner. Olivia knew she was out of time. Dark red patterns crawled over her skin and her silhouette dissolved, transforming into a scarlet shadow that vanished into the darkness. When the footsteps drew near, there was nothing left in the area.
