Whoosh~
A light wave of air brushed through Ariana's hair, flowing calmly… No sound. Not a single person—just her. Alone. In an abandoned forest.
What was she even doing here? Lost… or lured? Maybe both. Maybe neither.
Step… step…
Crumble… crumble…
Dry leaves cracked beneath her feet. She was searching—desperately searching—for something.
"Where is the exit?!" Ariana shouted.
Seconds… minutes… maybe an hour passed. No door appeared. Only wild trees, thick bushes, and the endless darkness of a moonless night. No light. Nothing. Just her… and the forest, silent and oppressive.
Huff… huff…
Sweat dripped down her face. Her legs burned. She could go no further and collapsed onto a bed of dry leaves. She wiped her forehead, scanning left and right, back and front.
Silence.
Not even a bird, insect, or worm dared to disturb this place.
It was as if all life had abandoned this forest. But why? Was something—or someone—is behind this?
Desperation sharpened her senses. Her eyes began to glow, her powers slowly awakening. And then—a chill swept the air, pulling at her, whispering her name without words.
Whoosh~
The pink thread appeared.
"Huh?!" Ariana snapped. The glowing line floated before her eyes, beckoning. Without hesitation, she surged forward, chasing it with all her strength.
The thread led her somewhere… somewhere unknown. She ran, ignoring fatigue, ignoring fear.
Huff… huff…
Her chest burned, but she didn't stop.
Finally, the thread slowed. Ariana approached it cautiously and closed her five thin fingers around it. She felt the strange texture, soft and slippery like soap.
"Huh?" she whispered. "It… actually let me hold it? But why?"
Before she could ponder further, the thread slipped from her grasp.
"Huh?!" Shocked, she muttered, "No… how…?"
Whoosh~
A violent gust of wind swept through the forest. Something dark glided toward the thread, moving effortlessly across the ground. It had no legs… yet it landed.
Ariana's eyes widened.
"Huh?!" Her heart raced. "No…no...no..NO!. How is this even possible?!. It can't be!."
She was so much shocked like she something an phantom horror?.
The thread began wrapping slowly around her upper body. She struggled.
"Who… no… what the hell are you? Let me out of this string!" she shouted.
The more she moved, the tighter it wrapped. Panic surged. Her mind screamed. Tears slipped from her eyes. Her eyelids grew heavy.
And then—blackness.
Thud… dry leaves shattered under her weight as she collapsed.
The shadow approached. Calmly. Silently. Its voice echoed through the forest:
"This area is not for children like you..."
A dark, cloudy form appeared beneath her, lifting her effortlessly.
"Let me take you to your rightful place," it whispered.
Airborne, carried by the shadow, Ariana felt no harm—only a strange, unsettling transport.
Suddenly—
Thud!
She woke in her bed. Huff… huff… sweat-drenched.
"This… this was all just a dream?!" she whispered. Her voice didn't reach anyone.
"More like a nightmare… or a true living horror!?," she muttered. Confused. "But… it felt so...real."
She shook her head, resigned. "Never mind. Who cares… let's go back to sleep. It's only 4:00 AM."
She lay down, closed her eyes, and finally drifted off.
Whoosh~
The room darkened.
"Not… the… right time yet, my… dear…"
A faint whisper echoed. Then vanished. Light returned. Silence reclaimed the room.
—TO BE CONTINUED—