Adrian scanned his surroundings, his gaze sharp and icy cold. The darkness of the night seemed to carry an ominous presence. He halted, staring intently at Renee, and said, “Don’t rush.”

Renee was momentarily stunned, a look of confusion on her face. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Renee hadn’t noticed anything unusual. The only thing she desired was to quickly leave this cursed place. The longer she stayed here, the more uncomfortable she felt.

Whoosh!

A fierce wind swept through Death Valley, making the towering trees shiver as though they were alive and fearful.

Adrian’s expression turned even colder as he looked around and shouted, “Stop hiding! Show yourself!”

The sudden outburst left Renee startled. She couldn’t tell if Adrian had lost his mind or if her own senses were just too weak. The air seemed empty, with nothing unusual. The biting cold wind had always been a part of Death Valley’s sinister aura, something Renee had always attributed to the place’s natural state.

Adrian’