Katrina~
I froze in the chokehold of the alley, the walls pressing in like they wanted to crush me alive. My heartbeat hammered against my ribs, wild and relentless, a battle drum that refused to quiet. The air was covered with the stench of rotting trash and coppery blood, each breath scraping my throat raw.
They closed in—those red-eyed abominations—stalking me in a slow, deliberate circle. Their growls weren't just sounds; they were vibrations that rattled through the damp concrete, a guttural promise of pain.
The dress I'd chosen hours ago, bold and daring, the kind of thing that made me feel untouchable in front of my mirror, now felt like a cruel joke. The scarlet fabric clung to me, plastered by sweat and fear, like it knew how helpless I was.
