Lily slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the soft white light that filled the room. She rubbed her eyes groggily, her vision still hazy, and sat up cautiously. As her surroundings came into focus, she noticed a photograph resting on the nightstand. It was of a boy with curly hair and striking green eyes. Her breath caught as she stared at the image-it felt oddly familiar, though she couldn't place where she might have seen him before.

Instinctively, she scooted back on the bed, her gaze darting around the space. The room was pristine, almost unnaturally so, with walls and furniture all painted in shades of white. Even the bed she had woken up on was draped in pale sheets, and the faint smell of lavender lingered in the air.

Her attention shifted to the corner of the room, where she noticed a boy sitting in a white chair, his head resting on his arm, fast asleep. It was the same boy from the photograph. His chest rose and fell steadily, his curls falling messily over his forehead.

Feeling a surge of unease, Lily slipped off the bed as quietly as she could, her bare feet sinking into the cold floor. She tiptoed to the door and hesitated for a moment before turning the handle. The door opened with a faint creak, and she peeked outside, revealing a small, dimly lit hallway.

It was empty.

She stepped out, carefully closing the door behind her. The hallway stretched in two directions, and she instinctively chose the right side, her footsteps light against the wooden floor. The air here was heavy, filled with the scent of old wood and faintly of smoke, as though a fire had recently been extinguished.

As she walked, her heart pounding, she suddenly heard a voice. "Oh, you're awake?"

Lily turned quickly to see an old man standing at the far end of the hallway. He was tall and wiry, with a long beard and a weathered face that stretched into a grin. But it wasn't his smile that caught her attention-it was the large axe he held in his hand.

She froze, her stomach twisting in fear. His grin, though seemingly harmless, sent a chill down her spine. Without a word, she turned and bolted in the opposite direction, her breath quick and shallow as she sprinted down the hall.

As she rounded a corner, she nearly collided with an elderly woman carrying a basket of folded clothes. The woman's sharp eyes followed Lily as she passed, her lips parting as if to say something, but Lily didn't wait to hear. She pushed forward, her red hair whipping around her face as she ran.

"Hey!"

The voice came from behind her-young, firm, and unmistakable. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the boy from the room standing in the hallway, his green eyes locking onto hers. Panic surged through her as she broke into a full sprint, darting through the winding halls with no idea where she was going.

The hallway ended abruptly, opening into a large room with a single window. Lily skidded to a stop, her eyes wide as she stared outside. It was dark-darker than it should have been. The sky beyond the glass was pitch black, and the only light came from the faint glow of the moon. Her pulse raced as she tried to make sense of it.

A flutter of movement caught her eye. The small bird from earlier-the one she had met in the forest-was outside, circling just beyond the window. It chirped, as if calling to her. Without thinking, Lily reached for the latch and pushed the window open. The cool air rushed in, filling her lungs as she climbed out onto the ledge.

The boy appeared in the room behind her, his voice urgent. "Wait! Don't go!"

But Lily didn't listen. The bird swooped past her, flying toward the trees in the distance. She climbed down, her bare feet landing on the soft earth below. Before she could catch her breath, she felt a gentle tug on her dress.

Looking down, she saw a small pup-a wolf with silvery fur and bright amber eyes. It tugged at her dress again, urging her forward toward the bridge that led back into the forest. Without hesitation, she followed, her fear momentarily forgotten as she ran after the pup.

The forest was alive again, the trees whispering as she passed. The bird flew just ahead, its chirping like a melody guiding her deeper into the woods. But as they moved, Lily's thoughts clouded with worry. Morning had surely come at the palace by now, and her absence would have been noticed. She had no idea how to retrace her steps or explain what had happened.

They reached a familiar staircase, the one she had descended earlier in the night. Her pace slowed as she struggled to catch her breath. The wolf pup stopped beside her, panting softly, while the bird perched on a nearby branch, its song a comforting rhythm.

Suddenly, Lily felt a firm push on her back. Startled, she turned to see vines wrapping around her wrists, pulling her forward. She cried out, but the vines didn't hurt her. Instead, they guided her gently down the stairs. The wolf pup leaped into her lap as the vines lifted her into the air, cradling her like a protective cocoon.

"What is happening?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

The trees seemed to shift around her, their branches weaving together as they carried her through the forest. It was as if the forest itself was alive, guiding her toward safety-or something else entirely.

The air grew thick with smoke as they neared the stone door she had passed through earlier. Her vision blurred, her head spinning from the sudden intensity of the scents and sounds around her. She saw the door creak open, revealing a faint light beyond.

It was the last thing she saw before darkness overtook her.