He looked around, the trees spinning and swaying until his stomach turned. He clenched his fists, trying to steady himself, then gave his head a hard punch and forced himself to stand. His heartbeat quickened, thudding hard in his chest. He could smell the iron in the air. He looked up and saw more of it. Drops. Smears. A trail leading straight toward the cabin. Sid swallowed hard, his throat dry.
"Evelise…"
His voice cracking slightly. Without thinking, he started to follow the blood, step after step, his body tense and ready for anything. The closer he got, the stronger the smell became. When the cabin came into view, his stomach dropped. The door was open, just swinging lightly in the wind, creaking with each sway.
"No… no, no, no—"
He broke into a run. The denim and leather slipped from his arms as he dashed forward, stumbling once on the uneven path and cracking his right knee.
"EVELISE!"
