Every instinct screamed at her to turn back, but she forced herself forward, one careful step at a time. The ground beneath her feet was slick with mud, and just as she began to move, she lost her footing.
The squelch of her fall broke the silence, drawing the traveller’s attention like a predator sensing weakness. His gaze snapped to her, and she could see the shift in his eyes—from surprise to a dark, calculating suspicion. He knew she wasn’t there by accident.