Chapter 29. Be Careful

Kasia’s legs pumped, propelling her further and further away from the pack house. She felt as though her very bones were on fire, an insatiable urge for water consuming her thoughts. Trees blurred past her in a dizzying dance of dark shadows, their bark scratching at her skin as she tore through the dense forest. A waterfall in a small lake shimmered ahead, a beacon of salvation that beckoned her closer and closer.

With the last ounce of her strength, Kasia reached the water’s edge and dove in headfirst. She swam underneath the waterfall, allowing the water to pelt her body. Cool, refreshing relief washed over her, enveloping her burning body like a soothing embrace. She then submerged herself completely, reveling in the sensation of the water swallowing her whole.

“Get out of the water,” the voice said in her mind. “Now.”

Kasia hesitated, not wanting to part with the only thing that offered her relief from the relentless heat. “I need this,” she thought back defia