venom in my blood

chapterr 32

Author's pov :-

Settled in for the night, a strange noise echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down Aranya's spine.

"What was that?" Ananya whispered, her eyes scanning the darkness.

"Probably just an animal," Kritika reassured, but her voice trembled.

Aranya's gaze locked onto the darkness beyond their campsite. The fire crackled, casting eerie shadows.

Suddenly, twigs snapped, and leaves rustled. The friends exchanged nervous glances.

"Hello?" Aranya called out, her voice steady.

Silence.

"Let's check it out," Kritika suggested, grabbing a flashlight.

Ananya nodded, her eyes wide with concern.

As they ventured into the darkness, the noise grew louder. Their hearts racing, they stumbled upon a figure huddled near a tree.

"Who are you?" Aranya demanded, shining the flashlight.

The figure slowly stood, its features illuminated...

The figure's features were illuminated, revealing a young woman, shivering and disheveled. Her eyes, wide with fear, locked onto the friends.

"Please...help me," she whispered.

Aranya's instincts kicked in. "What's wrong? What happened?"

The woman hesitated, glancing around nervously.

"I was hiking...got separated from my group. I've been lost for days."

Kritika's expression softened. "We'll help you. Come to our campsite."

As they led the woman back, Ananya whispered, "We don't even know her name."

"Doesn't matter," Aranya replied. "We can't leave her out here."

At the campsite, they offered her food and warmth. The woman's gratitude was palpable.

"I'm Sophia," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

As they shared stories, Sophia's tale unfolded...

"I was on a hiking trip with my friends," Sophia began, her voice trembling. "We were celebrating my birthday. But on the second day, I wandered off to take a photo...and got lost."

Aranya nodded sympathetically. "That can happen to anyone."

Sophia's eyes welled up with tears. "I've been surviving on berries and stream water for days. I thought I'd never see anyone again."

Kritika handed Sophia a warm blanket. "You're safe now."

But as Sophia wrapped herself in the blanket, Ananya noticed something odd.

"Sophia, what's that on your wrist?" Ananya asked.

Sophia's gaze darted to her wrist, where a strange symbol was etched.

"Oh, it's just...a tattoo," Sophia stammered.

Aranya's eyes narrowed. "That doesn't look like any tattoo I've seen."

Aranya's gaze remained fixed on the symbol. "What does it mean?" she pressed.

"It's just a tattoo," Sophia shrugged. "I got it on a whim during college."

Ananya raised an eyebrow. "Unusual design."

Sophia chuckled. "Yeah, I was going through an artistic phase."