Brooke bolted toward Eric, her heart pounding as hard as her footsteps. She couldn't let that monstrous owl get him, but she was terrified she wouldn't reach him in time. She glanced around the forest floor until she spotted a thick, broken branch lying nearby. She scooped it up without slowing, gripping it tightly like a weapon.

Screaming as loud as she could, she charged at the bird, her breath ragged and raw in her throat. The owl swooped down, its massive talons stretching toward Eric's back. Brooke held her breath, every muscle in her body tense. Please, don't let it get him.

At the last second, the bird's claws grazed the ground, narrowly missing its target. Eric scrambled out of the way, and Brooke exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding. But she knew the owl wasn't going to give up that easily. It wanted them, and it wasn't leaving until it got what it came for.

Without thinking, she sprinted the final few steps and swung the branch as hard as she could, slamming it against the bird's wing. The impact reverberated through her arms, and the owl staggered mid-flight, its wings flapping awkwardly before it regained momentum.

"Eric, get up!" she yelled as she reached him. He jumped to his feet and grabbed her hand, yanking her forward. Together, they sprinted deeper into the forest, weaving between the massive trees.

Overhead, the owl circled like a vulture, its huge wings casting shadows that flickered over the forest floor. Brooke's legs shook, and her breath came in frantic gasps as they flattened themselves against the trunk of a wide tree. Her limbs trembled so badly she thought she might collapse.

"What are we going to do?" she panted. "We can't stay here forever, and I am not going back out there with that thing flying around."

Eric's lips curled into a grin. "Maybe if we had a giant slingshot, I'd consider it."

She gave him a glare. "Seriously not funny, Eric."

"What?" He shrugged, though his breathing was just as heavy as hers.

They stood with their backs pressed against the tree, neither daring to take their eyes off the circling predator above. After a few more rotations, the owl folded its wings and swooped down, landing on the forest floor just beyond the nearest tree. Its talons dug into the dirt as it tucked its wings neatly behind it, cocking its head to the side.

Brooke's chest tightened. The bird wasn't giving up. It was stalking them now. And this time, it wouldn't miss.

"You've got to be kidding me," Eric muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "This is one psycho bird."

Brooke took a few cautious steps away from the tree, her instincts screaming at her to run. "We need to go," she whispered, trying to ignore the violent shaking in her legs.

"Not yet," Eric said, holding her arm. "Let it come closer first."

She stared at him in disbelief. "Closer? Are you insane? If it gets closer, it'll eat us!"

"No, it won't. The trees are too dense here. If we time it right, it'll struggle to fly after us, and we'll have a head start."

Brooke swallowed hard, nodding even though her pulse roared in her ears. Why didn't I think of that? Then again, she'd never been this scared in her life. It was no wonder her brain refused to work.

It was agonizing to wait. Every step the owl took toward them felt like the tolling of a death bell. Its sharp beak glinted under the faint moonlight, and its eyes glowed, wide and hungry. Brooke's breath hitched as Eric's fingers slid into hers, squeezing tightly.

"Are you ready?" he whispered.

"Yes."

"Not yet," he said softly, keeping his eyes on the owl. "Not yet."

She gritted her teeth, her patience wearing thin. Every fiber of her being begged her to run, but she forced herself to wait for his signal.

Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath their feet.

Brooke sucked in a breath and looked at Eric, whose wide eyes mirrored her confusion. "What was that?" she whispered.

The ground shook again, harder this time, sending loose dirt and small rocks skittering across the forest floor. The owl lifted its head, its beak clicking as it searched for the source of the disturbance.

Crack.

Snap.

The distant sound of trees breaking echoed through the forest, each crack louder and closer than the last.

Eric frantically waved the flashlight in every direction, but the beam only revealed more trees and shadows. The vibrations intensified, rattling the earth beneath their feet.

Brooke's heart leaped to her throat. "What is that?"

The cracking and snapping continued, and with each tremor, the air grew heavier. Whatever was approaching was massive.

Then, with a loud whoosh, the owl shot into the air, abandoning its hunt. Its massive wings flapped frantically as it soared through the canopy and disappeared into the night.

Brooke exhaled shakily. "That was weird," she muttered, her gaze lingering on the spot where the bird had been.

But the ground trembled again—this time with enough force to knock them both off balance. Branches snapped violently in the distance, followed by a sound that could only be described as thunderous footsteps.

"Giant!" Eric yelled, grabbing her arm.

Brooke whipped her head around, searching for any sign of a massive creature. "I don't see a giant!"

"Brooke, quit arguing with me!" Eric yanked her hand and took off running.

She stumbled after him, her legs burning with exhaustion. "You're going too fast!" she called out breathlessly. The uneven ground blurred beneath her feet, and she tripped on a rock, landing hard on her knees. Pain exploded through her legs, but panic fueled her as she scrambled to her feet.

"Eric, wait!"

He doubled back, offering her his hand. She grabbed it, wincing as she hauled herself upright.

"We've got to run," he said, his eyes scanning the trees behind them. The crashing footsteps were growing louder. "Stay in the trees. It'll give us cover."

Brooke nodded, clutching his hand like a lifeline as they sprinted through the forest. Branches whipped against her face and tangled in her hair, but she didn't dare slow down.

Wasn't a giant owl enough for one day? Her lungs burned, her legs screamed, and her knees throbbed from the fall. But she kept running, the sound of snapping branches and booming footsteps driving her forward.

Somewhere ahead, the forest thickened, the trees clustered closer together. Her breath came in short gasps, and she prayed they could find a way out of this nightmare before whatever was chasing them caught up.

When they reached the edge of the tree line, Brooke gasped. Fields of tall crops stretched endlessly in every direction, their tips swaying gently in the night breeze. The stalks rose high enough to block her view of what lay beyond them, and even the glow of the pale moon wasn't enough to give her a clear sense of what waited in the distance.

Desperately, she searched for a house, a building—anything that might provide shelter. But the vast field seemed to stretch forever, the shadows thick and unrelenting. A dirt road ran along the edge of the forest, worn with deep, narrow grooves pressed into the earth. The ruts weren't wide enough for a car or truck, and Brooke wondered what kind of vehicle could have made them.

Eric spotted the road at the same time and steered them toward it, tugging her along by the hand.

He glanced over his shoulder, breath coming in quick gasps. "We've got to keep running."

Brooke's lungs burned, and every muscle in her legs throbbed. The bitter taste of frustration coated her tongue. Rick could do this without getting winded. She scowled, anger bubbling inside her. I really need to exercise more. But she forced herself to keep moving.

Eventually, the ground stopped trembling, and the distant sound of snapping branches faded into silence. Their pace slowed to a brisk walk, but her legs still trembled with exhaustion.

"Do you... really... think that was... a giant?" she asked between gasps for air.

Eric released her hand before running his fingers through his hair. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice breathless. "But what else could shake the ground like that and tear through trees?" He flashed a small smirk. "Maybe next time, I'll stick around and wait to see what it was."

Brooke glared at the back of his head, biting back a snarky reply. He wasn't making this nightmare any easier. She pulled her hood up over her head and stuffed her hands into her pockets, trying to stop herself from shaking. The chill wasn't from the cold—it was fear. This was all too real. Were they even going to make it home?

Her mind drifted to Rick. The bitterness that had simmered earlier now boiled over, and she clenched her fists. This is all his fault. If he hadn't been so stupid and taken that bet, they wouldn't be running from car-sized owls and giants. I hope he's wracked with guilt. He deserves it.

"Look," Eric said, pointing ahead.

Brooke squinted. A small cottage stood at the end of the dirt road, its weathered roof barely visible under the shadows of the trees that framed it.

She groaned. "Oh, great. Maybe the seven dwarves live there, and Snow White can help us find our way home."

Eric grumbled, shaking his head. "Do you see any better options?"

"No," she muttered, folding her arms.

The cottage sat in complete darkness, its windows empty of light. Whoever lived there was likely fast asleep, and the thought of knocking on their door made her uneasy. She studied the area behind the house and spotted a small barn nestled in the shadows a few hundred feet away.

"There," she said, pointing to it. "We should hide in the barn. I don't want to wake anyone up in the middle of the night."

Eric sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine."

They made their way to the barn, its weathered wood creaking in the night wind. The building leaned slightly to one side, as if the weight of time had worn down its frame. Eric gripped the handle of the door and pulled slowly. The rusty hinges squealed, and both of them cringed at the noise. Brooke glanced back at the cottage, holding her breath, but nothing stirred.

After a few tense moments, Eric opened the door wide enough for them to slip inside. He shone the flashlight into the barn's interior, sweeping it across the stalls and wooden beams. Two cows and a horse shifted restlessly in their stalls, their sleepy eyes barely registering the intruders. A pitchfork and shovel hung from the wall, and a three-legged stool lay tipped over near the door.

Eric aimed the flashlight up toward the loft, where a small ladder led to a hay-covered platform. "We'll sleep up there tonight," he said.

Brooke followed him across the barn, the hay beneath her feet crunching softly. When they reached the ladder, Eric motioned for her to climb first.

As soon as she placed her foot on the first step, pain flared in her knee, sharp and unforgiving. She winced, biting her lip to keep from crying out. Slowly, she climbed, each step sending fresh jolts of pain through her limb. When she finally pulled herself onto the loft, she collapsed onto the scattered hay with a sigh of relief. Her body ached, and she could barely move without groaning.

Eric joined her a moment later, crawling across the hay and shining the flashlight toward the corner. "Blankets," he said, grabbing one and handing it to her.

"Thanks." Brooke spread the tattered quilt over herself and stretched out on her back. The fabric smelled faintly of dust and hay, but she didn't care. It wasn't her bed at home with its soft mattress and fluffy pillows, but right now, it felt like heaven.

"I'm exhausted," she murmured, her eyes fluttering shut.

Eric unfurled his own blanket beside hers and lay down on his stomach, propping his head on his arms. "Me too," he said, yawning.

For a moment, the barn was silent, except for the soft rustling of hay and the steady rhythm of their breathing. But Brooke's mind refused to rest. She stared up at the wooden beams above her, tracing the knots and cracks in the wood as her thoughts spiraled.

This wasn't a dream. She'd abandoned that hope somewhere back in the forest when the owl's talons had nearly closed around Eric. This was real. The pain in her legs, the dirt on her clothes—it was all too vivid. When we get home, she thought bitterly, Rick is going to pay for what he's done. She clenched her fists against the blanket.

But as her exhaustion finally began to pull her under, her thoughts softened. Maybe, just maybe, they'd make it out of this together. And if they did, she'd never let her brother live it down.