Genevieve's POV
The forest path seemed to stretch on forever, a winding ribbon of dirt and shadow that led away from the river of nightmares. The air was thick, suffocating, as if the very forest were mourning the silence that had taken the place of the children's laughter. It was a suffocating, heavy blanket of dread.
Beside me, Azura walked like a ghost.
I watched her through the corner of my eye, and the sight turned my stomach. Her posture, usually so proud and defiant, was broken, hollowed out. Her steps were slow, mechanical, a rhythmic thud-drag-thud against the earth. Her eyes were vacant, looking forward but seeing absolutely nothing. It was as if her soul had been snatched away through that dark portal along with the little girl, leaving behind only a shell that was still breathing out of habit.
