The sun had started to sink behind the hills. They had been out for hours now, and exhaustion was catching up. Scott and Sevira sat on a fallen tree, the forest still around them, quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves.
Sevira leaned into Scott's chest, her hands gently gripping his hoodie. Her eyes were closed, her face calm, yet her hold on him was firm—like a girl trying to ground herself in something real. Scott didn't move. He could feel her breathing, light and steady, her fingers curled against him like she didn't want to let go.
He glanced down at her, and for a second, forgot where they were. Her eyelashes fluttered gently, her lips parted slightly in sleep. Despite the dirt smudged on her cheek and the leaves tangled in her hair, she looked… peaceful. Beautiful, even.
Then, he saw it—tears. Silently rolling down her cheeks.
Scott blinked, confused. "How can someone sleep and cry at the same time?" he whispered, reaching up to gently wipe them away. But as he touched her skin, another tear slid down, and her body trembled.
Something wasn't right.
"Sevira…" he said softly, shaking her shoulder. "Wake up."
She didn't stir.
He tried again. "Sev—wake up. You're dreaming."
But the dream had taken hold of her.
⸻
Inside the Dream
Sevira stood in the middle of a narrow street, bathed in golden sunlight. Everything looked strangely familiar—quiet, warm, almost too perfect. Ahead, a house she recognized. Her home.
She gasped.
Before she could stop herself, her feet carried her forward. She ran through the gate, into the yard, past the front door, and straight into the living room.
And there they were.
Her parents.
Afroda sat on the couch, now older, gray streaks in his hair, but his eyes still sharp and kind. Beside him, Zena—her mother—had aged too, but smiled with the same warmth Sevira remembered from her childhood.
They were alive. Real. Right in front of her.
Sevira froze, watching them from the corner, her heart thundering. Her hands shook as her eyes filled with tears. Then Zena noticed her.
"My baby," her mother whispered.
Sevira ran into her arms. "Mom… Mama!" she cried, gripping her like she'd disappear again. "I missed you so much."
Zena held her tighter, kissing the top of her head. "We missed you too, my love. So much."
Afroda rose and wrapped them both in a hug.
"Come," Zena said, brushing her hair back. "Sit. Eat."
Sevira followed them to the dining table, where a meal was already laid out. Her favorite dishes. Everything felt surreal but too real to be fake. Her father served her himself, gently stroking her hair.
"You've grown so much," Afroda said proudly. "You're stronger than we ever imagined."
Zena chuckled as she spooned bano into her bowl. "You still don't eat sumi, do you?"
They all laughed. Sevira ate, smiling, tearing up, overwhelmed by the love. "I don't want to leave," she whispered. "I want to stay here forever."
But suddenly, the air shifted.
A figure appeared outside the window. A man. His face hidden in shadow, moving closer.
Afroda stood up sharply. "Zena. Take Sevira."
"What's happening?" Sevira asked, panic creeping in.
"That man…" Afroda growled. "He's dangerous. He followed you here. He shouldn't be in this place."
The door slammed open.
Her mother grabbed her hand. "Run, Sevira. Now!"
Before she could move, before she could speak , blood dripping from the man's weapon. She turned her parents dead. Everything exploded into white light.
⸻
Sevira jolted awake, gasping, her chest rising and falling like she'd just escaped drowning. Her eyes darted around, unsure of where she was.
Scott was already holding her, both hands on her shoulders. "Sev… it's okay. You're safe. You were crying m. Shhhhhh, calm down."
Sevira blinked rapidly. Then she buried her face in his chest and hugged him tightly, trembling. "They were alive, Scott. My parents… I saw them. I held them. We ate together… and then…"
Her voice cracked.
Scott didn't ask questions. He just held her, stronger now, his arms secure around her. "You're safe now," he whispered. "It was just a dream."
To her, it felt more than a dream.
———————-
The sun had dipped low over the horizon, casting a golden haze across the woods as groups of students trickled out of the trees, laughing, tired, and buzzing with energy from the just-ended game.
Sky, Kyle, Alex, and Emma were huddled around a bench under a tall maple tree, still catching their breath, their voices overlapping as they recounted moments from the challenge.
"Did you see as that guy fainted immediately he came out of the woods" Alex grinned, tossing his half-empty water bottle at Kyle.
"He hit his body hard!" Sky said, a little worried "I swear, too hard—"
"Dude is fat, at least he burnt some calories." Kyle teased, his dimple flashing.
"True." Emma laughed
They were relaxed, almost glowing with the shared high of victory and adrenaline. But Kyle's phone buzzed in his hand, and he glanced down quickly, then smirked.
Sky caught it immediately. "Kim?" he said, leaning over to peek.
Kyle tilted his screen away, chuckling. "No one."
"No one doesn't send three heart emojis," he teased, raising a brow. "So spill."
Emma leaned forward curiously. "Kim? Like… girlfriend?"
Kyle shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. She's cool. We've been together for a while. Long-distance, though. She's in Seattle."
Alex blinked. "You? In a relationship?"
"Yeah, shocker, I know," Kyle said with a grin.
"Well," Emma leaned back and crossed her legs, "good for you. Me? I don't do relationships."
Alex turned toward her, intrigued. "Really?"
She smiled lazily. "Nope. But I love watching two people fall in love. It's beautiful."
Kyle narrowed his eyes at her. "Or maybe you're gay."
Emma rolled her eyes and smacked the back of his head. "Shut up. I just have standards."
Everyone laughed, the air warm with camaraderie.
But then a silence crept in. Alex looked around, her brows slowly drawing together.
"Wait," she said, standing a little. "Where's Sevira and Scott?"
They all looked around.
"Yeah," Sky added. "True."
Kyle frowned and pulled out his phone again, scrolling quickly. "No text. No call."
Emma stood now too, her voice losing its teasing edge. "Maybe they took a different route?"
"Or they're just taking their time," Sky said, though his voice didn't sound so sure anymore. "No somethings wrong."
Kyle checked the time. "It's been almost thirty-five minutes since the game ended. Everyone is out except them."
Alex stood, suddenly tense. "Guys, it's getting dark."
Emma so worried. "You think something's wrong?"
Alex voice was firm now. "Yes."
She turned toward the remaining crowd of students still lingering around. "Hey—has anyone seen Sevira or Scott?" she called.
Heads shook. Some shrugged.
A flicker of worry passed between the four of them.
Kyle was already moving. "We're going back in."
They didn't hesitate. They grabbed their phones, flashlights, and turned back toward the edge of the woods. Some students joined to help find them.
Alex heart beat harder than before from fear.
Something wasn't right.
————
The woods were quiet now—too quiet. No more birdsong. Just the soft crunch of leaves beneath their feet and the occasional sigh of the wind threading through the trees.
Sevira and Scott were trying to find their way back, their game bands still glowing faintly in the darkening forest. The trail had disappeared, and they had circled what felt like a dozen times already.
"Are we going the right way?" Sevira asked, brushing a low branch aside.
Scott glanced around. "I… thought we were. But everything's starting to look the same."
Sevira huffed a tired breath. "We've been walking in circles." She decided to use her magic, not even sure if it will work.
Suddenly, she stumbled over a root, and her body lurched forward.
"Whoa—"Scott said quickly, reaching out and catching her by the wrist. With one pull, he steadied her, then gently helped her stand straight again. His hand lingered a second longer than necessary.
She muttered, "Thanks," brushing some hair from her face.
But Scott reached up before she could, pulling a small twig from her hair. "You've got… uh—this." His fingers brushed her temple.
She watched him do it , she admired him. She wanted him. He wanted her too.
They froze.
Their eyes met—intensely, silently.
Scott's hand was still in her hair, and her chest rose and fell with each nervous breath. The moment deepened between them. The forest disappeared. The world shrunk to just the two of them.
He stared at her lips, then her eyes—dark and wide, like they held a thousand unspoken truths. His other hand had naturally found her waist, resting there like it belonged.
She didn't pull away. She didn't flinch.
Sevira swallowed, feeling her heart beat so loud it was all she could hear. It wasn't just attraction—it was something deeper, something known without words.
Scott gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Then slowly—almost reverently—his fingers traced the curve of her neck.
Her breath hitched. She followed the movement with her eyes, then looked back at him, heart racing.
Scott's voice dropped to a low murmur. "You're so beautiful…"
Sevira felt heat rise in her cheeks. She looked down, shy for a moment, before lifting her gaze to meet his again.
Scott leaned in.
She didn't move.
And then—he kissed her.
Soft. Slow. Searing.
He kissed her once, then again, and again—each time deeper, fuller, more intense. Her body melted into his. Her hands slid up his shoulders, wrapping around his neck. His arms encircled her waist tightly, like he never wanted to let her go.
His lips moved down to kiss her neck, her shoulder. She gasped quietly, and her fingers curled into his hair. The kiss turned desperate, like they were making up for all the time they'd pretended not to feel what they both clearly did.
He whispered against her skin, "gosh, I love you ." He didn't even know when he said it. Saying his feelings out loud has always scared him but this time he didn't care. He could shout it if he wanted to. Finally he locking lips with her, something he wanted for the longest. She was all he wanted, all he could ever think of.
Hearing those words did something to her heart.
Did he just confessed his feelings, she thought.
She smiled softly, breathless, her eyes shining. "You love me." She said softly.
He chuckled, flustered, brushing her cheek with his thumb. "You make me nervous."
Before she could respond, she heard it—distant voices. Calling her name.
Then again, clearer.
"Sevira!"
"Scott!"
It wasn't just the wind or forest tricks. People were looking for them.
Scott took a breath and touched her chin, gently tilting her face to him. "We'll talk later," he said quietly.
She nodded, dazed and glowing.
He grabbed her hand, and together, they started toward the voices—hearts
racing, lips tingling, and everything between them suddenly changed.