The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 28

8 October 2024

Clara fed the fire some fresh logs, struck down her tent, and packed. She left behind a small red bag, placed by the red backpack given to Julia earlier. This bag contained more money, cards, and a secure phone… and a note.

“She may look like Red Riding Hood, but she’s the wolf… I should’ve taken her shopping instead of going on a hunt.”

With everything in hand, Clara focused on home.

a surreal and vibrant cinematic photo of a young woman with long, dark brown hair and piercing green eyes, wearing a warm beige winter jacket, insulated snow pants, and sturdy hiking boots, with a light red backpack slung over her shoulder, adorned with shiny silver zippers and multiple pockets, hiking through a snow-covered forest alone in the early morning, with the winter sun casting a warm golden glow through the misty atmosphere, surrounded by towering evergreen trees with snow-laden branches, their trunks adorned with frost-covered ivy, and the sound of crunching snow beneath her feet, in a photorealistic style with a subtle film grain, evoking a sense of adventure and solitude.

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.