198: THE NIGHTMARE

LUKE'S POV In the heart of this ancient, dense forest, I stood, the moonlight struggling to break through the thick canopy above, casting eerie shadows that danced upon the forest floor. My breath misted in the chill night air as I called out my wife's name, the sound lost in the rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Hope and fear mingled within me as I pushed through the undergrowth, each step crunching on the carpet of fallen leaves. The darkness seemed to envelop me, the silence of the forest weighing heavy on my chest. I couldn't halt my steps now, not when I felt so close to finding her. Then, there she appeared. A figure at the edge of a small clearing was bathed in a pale, ethereal light that seemed to radiate from within her. It was her, unmistakably so, with her long, flowing hair and the soft curve of her smile. Relief flooded through me as I quickened my pace, arms outstretched to embrace her. But as I drew nearer, a shadow passed over her face, her features