Noble Church: Sundown
Chapter One The forest was dense, shrouded in mist and thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. Trees loomed over Essence Maxwell like ancient sentinels, their branches clawing at the sky, their roots gnarled and tangled beneath her feet. The ground was uneven, but she ran—God, she ran—chasing the anguished screams that tore through the wilderness. “Mommy!” Douglas. His voice was guttural, colored with terror and pain. It ripped through her like jagged glass, slicing through her resolve, igniting something deep within her, something primal. There were leaves in her hair, her sweatshirt clung to her body, her jeans wet with sweat, but she didn't care. She pushed on. She had to reach him. Onward she went, dodging twisted limbs of trees, her breath ragged, her heart pounding like a war drum in her chest. The more she ran, the fainter his screams became. Essence pushed harder, forcing her legs to move faster, her lungs burning. “Douglas! I’m coming, baby! Hold on for m...