The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 273

The men surrounding Silky chuckled, save the presumptive leader. That forced the hunters to switch up their tactics. I know what I would do.

“Isaiah 43:4,” Silky rhymed without context.

Julia took a deep breath and gulped.

“Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.”

There came more chuckling. Which forced Silky to up the ante.

“1 Peter 3:3” Silky added.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes.”

Julia was getting cocky, and her slowing heart rate was a testament to that. By this point Clara’s own heart rate was so low that a physician would declare her dead.

A low-key lit, cinematic photograph of a young woman with long, dark brown hair, wearing a black leather jacket with silver hardware, and a vibrant red backpack with worn straps, standing confidently in the midst of a dense, misty forest at night, her facial expression determined as she confronts a mysterious figure cloaked in a hooded, dark grey robe, its face obscured by shadows, the atmosphere tense with an air of disagreement, the woods surrounding them a blend of dark greens and blues, with the faint glow of moonlight peeking through the treetops, casting an eerie ambiance, the camera lens focused on the intense standoff between the two figures, with a shallow depth of field to emphasize the drama of the scene.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.