JANAYAH

Samantha’s scream ripped through the trees—sharp, shaking, terrified.

I wanted to react.

I wanted to lift my head, tell her I was fine… or at least alive.

But I couldn’t move.

Not a finger.

Not a breath beyond shallow, shaky ones.

Then the world erupted.

Footsteps thundered toward us—multiple, fast, frantic. Voices overlapped, panicked shadows closing in around my consciousness.

“Here!” Samantha shouted.

Everything sounded muffled, as if my ears were stuffed with cotton. I felt a hand brush my forehead, another touch my cheek, and still… nothing in my body responded.

Then strong arms slid under me, lifting me fully off the ground.

I couldn’t even tilt my...