Chapter 79. Layla, What Have You Done?

Layla’s POV

The grass looked burnt under my bare feet. The trees that one stood proudly were turning into wrinkled sticks that could barely stand. It looked like life had been sucked out of the forest; the green leaves were now piles of ash residue laying on the ground next to the cracked trunk.

The roots were growing thinner and grayer; the colors of the flowers and moss, which once were enhanced under the sun, were now a black and white movie only nobody would laugh at.

I heard the roaring storm that was blasting over our heads, but not a single drop made it past the trees. The crowns still stood tall and protected the forest against unworthy eyes and preying hands.

“Layla,” I looked out towards the little cottage; I was expecting to see Analise in her cheerful embrace with that warm gaze, but I wasn’t shocked when I was wrong.

“Analise?” She looked like a hollow shell of the woman she used to be. Black holes had formed around her eyes; her ch