Inheritance Redefined

Chapter Thirty-Three

The three of them huddled together, trying to stay calm as the forest grew darker. The wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it an almost eerie chorus of cracking branches and distant animal calls. Every shadow seemed alive, twisting and shifting with the fading light.

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Soon, the girls started walking again. The forest had grown colder. Night pressed down, thick and heavy, and the moonlight barely penetrated the dense canopy above. Elara's legs trembled as she stumbled over roots, her hands shaking as she brushed leaves from her path. Every rustle made her heart leap. Her fear wasn't just of being lost–it was the forest itself, alive with the unseen and unknown.

"I… I can't go any faster," Olivia whispered, voice trembling. She sank to a patch of moss. "My feet… they're killing me."

Elara knelt beside her, gripping her friend’s hands. "We're almost through this. We just need… one step at a time."

Anastasia tried to peer through the gloom. "Okay… if we stay close together and listen, we'll figure out which way leads back. Maybe… maybe there's a trail or something a bit further down."

The girls moved slowly, carefully placing their feet, but even that was exhausting. A shallow stream cut across the forest floor, and Anastasia's foot slipped on the slick rocks. "Careful!" Elara cried, catching her arm just in time. Their bodies pressed together, eyes wide, breathing ragged.

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Farther back, the searchers had split into coordinated groups. Salvatore, Theron and Mikhail moved along what they suspected was the girls' last path, following subtle disturbances in the undergrowth–bent ferns, snapped twigs, faint footprints in mud.

"Over here," Salvatore said, pointing to a crushed patch of moss. "They were definitely here."

Theron's hand hovered over the walkie-talkie strapped to his chest. "Let's call it in."

Mikhail glanced around. "We need to hurry. This part of the forest isn't safe, there are lots of steep banks, sudden drops, and… who knows what else."

Alessandro, moving slightly above the group along a ridge, scanned the darkness. Even the adults felt tension pressing in on them. Sergei's normally relaxed features were tight, and Leonidas' calm composure had vanished under the urgency of protecting the girls.

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Back with the girls, the forest seemed endless. Every path twisted, every shadow shifted and fatigue had begun to dull their senses. Elara paused, breath hitching, her hands on her knees.

"I… I think we need water," she muttered. Her voice was hoarse. "My throat… it burns."

Anastasia groaned, sitting down heavily. "We should've brought more supplies with us. Idiot idea to run off like that." Her voice was edged with frustration, but beneath it lingered fear.

Suddenly, a low rustle came from the shadows behind them. Elara froze, her heart pounding in her chest. A branch snapped. Something, maybe an animal, was moving just beyond the dim moonlight.

"Shh…" Elara whispered. Her hands clutched Olivia's and Anastasia's. Their eyes darted around, scanning for any sign of movement. The forest felt enormous, almost suffocating in the still night.

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Farther along the ridge, the searchers were closing in. Salvatore held a flashlight, its beam cutting a narrow path through the darkness. "Keep calling their names," he ordered. "They're out here. They have to hear us."

Theron's voice rang through the quiet forest, "Elara! Olivia! Anastasia! Over here!"

The girls froze at the sound, hope flickering deep in their chest. "Did you hear that?" Olivia whispered, clutching Elara's arm.

"I think so… yes!" Elara said, her voice shaking with relief. "Someone's there!"

Anastasia jumped to her feet. "Finally!" Her grin returned, small, but real, despite her exhaustion. "We're not completely and utterly doomed."

Elara led the way toward the sound, stumbling over roots and moss, calling back in trembling voice: "Here! We're here!"

Branches scraped their arms, leaves clung to their hair and clothes, and fatigue threatened to pull them down, but the beam of light ahead was unmistakable. Figures emerged from the shadows–older brothers and searchers, moving swiftly but carefully, reaching out as soon as they saw the girls.

"Got you!" Salvatore exclaimed, crouching to pull Elara into his arms while Theron and Mikhail helped to steady Anastasia and Olivia.

Alessandro and Leonidas emerged from behind, ensuring the girls were safe.

Elara clung to Alessandro and Leonidas, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so… sorry," she whispered.

"Don't even think about it," Alessandro said firmly, his tone softening. "You're safe now. That's what matters."

Olivia leaned against Elara, shivering but relieved. Anastasia wiped her eyes, finally laughing weakly through her fear. "Next time… I'm carrying a map."

Elara laughed quietly, exhausted, and for the first time in hours, the forest didn't feel threatening–it felt like the end of a nightmare.