Before even being consciously awake, Jordan grabbed his phone. This wasn't the first time he'd checked his notifications during the night but at this hour, he had greater hope to find what he desired.

Nothing. No koalas. No exuberant messages of encouragement. Not even any feedback on the latest episode of the podcast, which Jordan had dropped the night before.

Since their intimate moment in the car, they hadn't been in touch. Jordan had delved into editing, forgetting everything else until he had a finished episode ready. But now, he could no longer ignore how he had fumbled away a precious connection. His spiraling thoughts had tangled him in a sticky web and Jordan didn't know how to break free.

Foolishly, he had hoped everything would be alright once he released the episode with Jane's interview. He'd convinced himself that Derek would comment as usual, building a bridge toward reconnection in the process. He'd counted on Derek taking that first step because he always had in the past, but this time, it seemed to be Jordan's turn to act. It was his turn to call, text, or koala. But he wasn't sure what to say. How did you talk to someone you had just kissed? It wasn't like the intimate encounter had been bad. On the contrary, it had been rather delightful. But it inevitably changed things between them, which meant Jordan wasn't sure how to proceed. Any attempt at contact felt fraught. What if Derek felt the same as him? What if he didn't? Both options felt equally terrifying because differing wishes on how to move forward could break the tenuous relationship they had built in a short time. Jordan didn't know if he wanted to take that risk, seeing that Derek was the best friend he'd ever had. Not even for a chance at something more. Although it may be too late to take a step back now anyway. The border was crossed irrevocably.

Checking his notifications again, assuring himself he hadn't missed anything, Jordan sat up, rubbing stiff hips from days of barely leaving his desk chair for days while in full editing mode. His intense focus had served as a distraction from the responsibility put on his shoulders and his own ineptitude to handle the task. Not until the mystery was solved could he allow himself to tackle the Derek situation, even if the lack of resolution was constantly present in the back of his mind.

But now, he needed to do something. He needed to find Araminta. And to do that, he needed to go back to the woods. Because if there was one thing that was clear from Jane's message, it was that the woods were filled with secrets. Hopefully, going there would help him find his way.

An hour later, Jordan was more lost than ever.

Moss and pine needles lay beneath his feet. Wispy branches willowed above, shading the bright spring sun.

Standing among miles upon miles of identical trees, he had no clue where to go. His optimistic plan upon walking into the woods had been to find Esme's cottage again. Maybe she had answers to all the confusing questions whirling in his mind. Maybe she had the mysterious cards that Jane had talked about, the ones that had once belonged to Esme's mother Benedicta. Maybe she could guide him toward his next step.

But apparently, Jordan wasn't lost enough. Because Esme had said only the ones who were lost could find the cottage. And while Jordan felt pretty damn lost, the forest wouldn't give up its secrets to him.

Trying to find some kind of landmark, Jordan spun around. There were only trees. High and mighty they isolated him from the world outside. He was alone.

If only Derek had been there. With his endless optimism and ability to find solutions, he would have been able to get them out of this pickle. But Derek wasn't around because Jordan had screwed everything up. He'd backed off when he'd wanted to dive deeper.

Jordan was as lost in love as he was in the woods.

Sitting down on a tree stump that formed a natural chair, Jordan checked the reception on his phone again. Still no bars. So he couldn't use the map app to navigate his way back nor could he alert anyone of his predicament. He supposed his family would miss him once they got home, but that was still a few hours away as he'd left before noon, and they wouldn't know where he had gone and considering that Jordan was an adult, him not being at home shouldn't cause immediate concern anyway.

His stomach growled. In vain, Jordan rummaged through his pockets for something to snack on. It was the third time he did so, hoping to find a sneakily hidden granola bar or something. Once again, he came up empty. A couple of mushrooms grew out of the moss beside where Jordan sat. They may be edible, but he wasn't desperate enough to try just yet.

In the distance, he heard a crow cawing. Rising from his seat, Jordan traveled toward the sound. He hoped the bird may dwell near civilization, which realistically shouldn't be far. Having looked at maps of the area in the past, Jordan knew the woods didn't go on forever. They were perched right between his hometown and the neighboring town, with not more than a mile of untouched wilderness. But right now, the overgrown woods appeared endless, defying any logic gleaned from geographic surveillance.

The bird call was all he had to follow, so he marched toward the sound, climbing across fallen trees and dodging low branches. Closing in on the sound, Jordan hinted something in the corner of his eye. The end of a black braid. The lace of a wide-brimmed skirt. The shadow of someone who wasn't there. Because when Jordan turned, there was only grass willowing in the wind.

But was it just that?

A crack from a branch was followed by a rustle from fallen leaves. Jordan spun again. Something—or someone—was out there. He wasn't alone. But he wasn't sure whether that was a good or bad thing. Whatever entity lured in the bushes could lead him to safety or further astray.

Still, he couldn't temper his curiosity. Slowly, he threaded closer to where the sounds had come from. Within the low shrubbery, a rustle emanated, coming his way. Jordan braced himself, forgetting to breathe. Was the magical forest about to swallow him whole?

Mroow?

Appearing from underneath brambles and blueberry bushes was none other than Kiki. Who was definitely not scary, although perhaps magical.

"What are you doing here?" Jordan asked the cat, who happily stroked against his legs. Kiki was, as usual, supposed to be safe and sound inside. At this point, Jordan was no longer surprised that locks and bolts couldn't keep the cat imprisoned. Kiki simply did what she wanted, with no concern for human attempts to control her moves.

After imprinting Jordan's jeans with her scent—perhaps making sure he didn't get lost again—Kiki trotted away across the moss. Once the cat got a few feet away, she turned, almost as if to make sure that Jordan followed.

"Are you going to help me find my way back?" Jordan asked, glad to have a more competent navigator on his side.

As if responding to his question, Kiki moved forward again. Jordan followed. After all, he had heard that cats had a built-in compass that always helped them find their way home. Although Kiki may not have been lost to begin with; she could have set out with the sole mission to find Jordan and bring him back.

Kiki kept a brisk pace, stopping occasionally to make sure Jordan wasn't lagging. Cat paws were much more adapted to moving in forest terrain than human feet.

Dusk had begun to fall when Jordan finally recognized his surroundings. Animal paths were replaced by human-trodden walkways. Smoke from chimneys floated above the treeline. The familiar growl from engines filled the landscape.

Soon, the fence of his family home's backyard came into view, marking the end of his terrifying trek through the unknown. Releasing worried tension from his limbs, Jordan's shoulders dropped downward and his fists unclenched. He was no longer lost. He was home.

Escaping the grip of the forest, Jordan couldn't help but stop to gaze toward Araminta's house, wondering if she had become similarly lost. The forest had taken her in its arms and wouldn't let go. But since Jordan had found his way out, perhaps Araminta could as well. She only needed someone to guide her.

Mrroow?

Looking toward the gate that separated the forest from the backyard, Kiki's meow was phrased like a question, wondering if Jordan was coming. The cat seemed keen on bringing him the last few meters to safety, completing her mission. Tuna and a cozy nap awaited.

But Jordan didn't move, because he just remembered something Esme had told him when he visited her cottage. She had told him that the last time she saw Araminta, she had come there to fetch some things that had belonged to the first Araminta.

An old book of incantations.

A set of tarot cards.

If Araminta had been in possession of those cards—the very same cards Jane had talked about—then they may still be in her house. After all, no one but Jordan would understand their significance. Although admittedly he didn't quite know what role those cards played either.

But he knew he had to find them. Which meant he had to get inside that house.