Eternal Goodbye.

part 30: The Depth of Despair.

The woods were suffocating, each rustle of leaves or snapping of twigs sending fresh waves of panic through Divine. Rhea and Gustav ran beside her, their breaths ragged, but the ache in Divine's chest was growing unbearable. The further they moved into the darkness, the more she felt Tom's absence like a physical weight, pressing down on her spirit.

"Divine, we need to stop," Rhea said, her voice barely a whisper now, almost lost in the night. They had been running for what felt like hours, adrenaline keeping them going, but exhaustion was beginning to creep in.

"No!" Divine snapped, her voice sharp as she pushed through the underbrush. "We can't stop. They're still out there!"

"Divine, we need to catch our breath," Gustav insisted, his tone firm but laced with concern. "If we keep running like this, we'll collapse before we even get away."

Divine wanted to argue, to push them forward, but a part of her knew they were right. Her legs felt like lead, and her heart was pounding painfully in her chest. They had lost Tom, and the reality of that loss was starting to sink in, clawing at her resolve.

"Okay, just for a minute," she relented, her voice cracking. "But we can't let our guard down."

They found a small clearing, dimly illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the trees. Divine leaned against a sturdy oak, closing her eyes for a brief moment, allowing herself to breathe. The cool night air felt refreshing, but it was also filled with the heavy scent of damp earth and decay, reminding her of the horror they had escaped.

"What do we do now?" Rhea asked, her voice trembling slightly. "We can't keep running forever, but we can't go back either."

Divine opened her eyes, meeting Rhea's gaze. She could see the fear etched into her friend's features, mirroring her own. "We need to find a way out of these woods. We need to get to the nearest road, signal for help... something."

"And what if they find us first?" Gustav interjected, rubbing the back of his neck anxiously. "We need a plan, a way to defend ourselves if they catch up."

Divine felt a surge of frustration. "We'll figure it out! We can't give up hope just because things seem bleak right now!"

"Hope?" Rhea echoed, a shadow of doubt crossing her face. "How can we have hope when we've lost so much? Tom is-" She faltered, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air.

"Tom is gone, yes," Divine said, her voice firmer than she felt. "But we have to keep moving. For him. We owe it to him to survive, to get out of here and tell everyone what happened. We can't let his death be in vain."

The determination in her voice seemed to ignite something within Rhea and Gustav. They nodded, albeit reluctantly, and the trio resumed their trek through the woods, the trees looming around them like watchful sentinels.

As they walked, Divine's mind raced with memories of Tom. The way his laughter filled a room, how he always seemed to know just what to say to lift her spirits. They had planned to make so many more memories together, and the thought of never sharing another moment with him felt like a dagger to her heart.

"Do you think we'll be able to get out of here?" Gustav asked, breaking the silence. His voice held a tremor, revealing the fear he was trying to mask.

"We have to believe we can," Divine replied, forcing a semblance of hope into her tone. "We just need to stay strong and look out for each other."

Suddenly, a sound pierced the stillness of the night-a faint crack of branches snapping, too close for comfort. The three of them froze, their hearts racing as they exchanged wide-eyed glances.

"Did you hear that?" Rhea whispered, her voice barely audible.

Divine nodded, her throat tightening. "We need to move. Now."

They quickened their pace, hearts pounding in sync with their hurried steps. But the further they went, the more the sounds seemed to close in around them, the sensation of being watched growing heavier with each passing moment.

A low growl echoed through the trees, and Divine's heart dropped. "Run!" she shouted, panic surging through her veins. They darted deeper into the woods, the adrenaline propelling them forward as terror gripped their hearts.

But then, as they rounded a bend, they stumbled upon a small clearing, and their breath caught in their throats. Standing before them were the two men, their grotesque faces illuminated by the moonlight, eyes glinting with malicious intent. One held an axe, the other a rusted chainsaw, both weapons dripping with the remnants of their previous victims.

"No..." Divine's voice trembled, horror washing over her. "No, please, no!"

"Run!" Rhea screamed, her voice laced with desperation.

They spun around to flee, but it was too late. The men charged forward, laughter echoing in the dark like a death knell. Divine's heart raced as she sprinted, pushing her body to its limits. The memories of Tom fueled her desperation, urging her to survive.

"Stay together!" Gustav shouted, trying to rally them, but the chaos of the moment threatened to tear them apart.

As they dashed through the underbrush, the sound of chainsaws revving behind them filled the air, a chilling reminder of the horror that chased them. They wove through the trees, their lungs burning and hearts racing, but the darkness seemed to close in around them, swallowing their hope.

Suddenly, Divine stumbled over a root, falling to the ground as the world around her spun. Panic surged within her, but she quickly scrambled back to her feet. "Rhea! Gustav! Where are you?"

"Over here!" Rhea shouted, her voice barely piercing through the cacophony of fear. Divine pushed through the trees, desperately trying to find her friends, but as she turned a corner, she was met with a chilling sight-the two men were closing in.

"Run!" Divine screamed, her heart pounding with fear as she took off again. She could hear Rhea and Gustav behind her, their footsteps echoing in the darkness.

The trees blurred past her, and her mind raced as she tried to think of a way out. "We have to find a way to escape!" she shouted over her shoulder.

But the sounds of laughter behind them grew louder, taunting and sinister, and with every step they took, Divine felt the grip of despair tighten around her heart. They were being hunted, and the nightmare seemed to close in, threatening to consume them all.