Word spread quickly—someone swore a “monster” prowled. Rumors multiplied, fueled by fear. Elise smiled weakly at neighbors, but unease spread like wildfire. Some spoke of organizing hunts, others demanded traps. Elise realized her greatest fear wasn’t Shadow’s danger—it was the world discovering him and taking him away.
At night, the woods thrummed with search parties, flashlights cutting through darkness. Elise watched from her window as beams crisscrossed the trees. Shadow stayed near her, restless but obedient. She whispered, “Stay with me, just stay,” though each word felt more like a plea than a command.