Suddenly, a faint sound pierced the silence, a rustling of leaves, a soft slithering. Scarlett and Emma froze, their hearts racing as they instinctively turned to face the source of the noise.
There, at the edge of the forest, was the snake, a menacing silhouette against the backdrop of fading daylight. Scarlett's breath caught in her throat, her mind racing with fear and disbelief. Was this the same serpent that had pursued them earlier? Had it truly crossed the border, defying all reason and warning?
Emma's grip tightened on Scarlett's arm, her eyes wide with alarm. But then, as if in a surreal twist of fate, Scarlett felt herself drawn into a waking nightmare. The snake advanced, its movements deliberate and ominous, crossing the invisible boundary of the border without hesitation.
