I realized, after walking on the empty, deserted road, that walking and crying was not a promising idea. The desolated path was shrouded by a dense canopy of towering trees, their branches interlacing like skeletal fingers reaching towards the heavens. The moon, hidden behind dark clouds, cast intermittent shadows that danced eerily along the uneven pavement. The chorus of chirping crickets filled the night air, their relentless symphony punctuated by the occasional croak of a frog from a nearby pond.With each step I took, the sound of my own footsteps echoed in the silence, amplifying the unease that had settled deep within me. The rhythmic thud of my shoes against the worn-out road seemed to synchronize with the rapid hammering of my heart against my chest, creating a disconcerting symphony of fear and anxiety."Wow, even my footsteps are sounding like I am in a conjuring movie," I muttered, a tremor in my voice. "Damn you, Annabelle."As I continued my solitary journey, the shadow

After hours of continuous work, my eyes began to ache from staring at the laptop screen. With a groan of exhaustion, I closed the laptop and let out a tired sigh. I knew I had been pushing myself too hard, but the urgency to earn more money and secure a safer place to live fueled my determination.Falling back onto the bed, I contemplated my situation. I had managed to save up enough money to sustain myself for the next six months, but I knew I needed to earn more if I wanted to escape this desolate motel, situated in the middle of nowhere. Safety was a concern here, and the sooner I could find a better place, the better.It had been two weeks since I arrived at this place, and I hadn't seen much of Isaac during that time. I pondered whether he was simply occupied with his own affairs or if my reluctance to venture out of my room had caused our paths to cross less frequently.A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts, and a voice called out, "Bella, it's Isaac. Open up."I furrowed