Chapter 166: This place

The sun barely peeked over the horizon, casting long shadows over the camp as the group stirred from a restless night. The previous day's events weighed heavily on them, each member silently nursing their own thoughts. Emily, as usual, was the first to rise, her eyes scanning the landscape ahead. They had a long journey before them, and the air was thick with both anticipation and dread.

"Let's move," she said quietly, but with authority, as she began packing her gear. The others followed suit, their movements slower and more deliberate than before. The stranger's cryptic message still echoed in their minds, pushing them forward even as doubts gnawed at their confidence.