Chapter 33. A Girl from the Mountain

My heart was torn between compassion for the injured girl and the desperate impulse to flee. My mind was a minefield of opposing emotions, torn between the want to assist her and the fear of being discovered.

The girl's wounded gaze locked with me, imploring for help. My conscience nudges me, reminding me of the sympathy I'd always had for those in need. I knew leaving her behind would haunt me for the rest of my life, but staying meant jeopardizing my freedom and unearthing the truth that had escaped me.

I took a cautious step nearer, drawn to her frantic expression. The drops of blood left a bleak trail behind her, signifying the suffering she had undergone. Each drop echoed in the silence of the wilderness, a terrifying reminder of the decisions I had to make.

My heart was racing as I fought my inner demons. I wanted to reach out to her and help her, but I couldn't afford to lose myself in the depths of her anguish. I had to find my way back to the world where I