Prologue: Eva

Fear laced her heart. The world around her seemed alien, menacing. Too bright, the grass a too-saturated green fluttering upon the hills and along the rippling plains, swaying like a green sea. There, carved out of gigantic trees as tall as skyscrapers, was a twisted kind of castle or palace, woven in unnatural ways from branches, as if the trees had been coaxed to grow in that perfect shape.

She was here, and she was alone. No one to help, to save her. Her only weapon was some little glass vials in a pouch on her leather belt. She was hardly prepared for something as terrifying as this. The sky above clouded gray-black, and flicks of purple lightning pierced the scenery, followed by no sound. When the sun peeked out, it didn't look like the sun at all but a mockery of one. The storm had come on fast.

Alone, Eva thought, and that single word sent a paralyzing fear through her body, making her break out in a clammy sweat. She wasn't supposed to be alone. This wasn't the plan.

Nathan, where are you?

Surely, he hadn't betrayed her? Please, please…

She was alone, so very alone. And she was hunted.