The forest was quiet, except for the crunch of leaves under hurried footsteps. Lila's friends disappeared down the narrow path, calling her name, their voices trembling between worry and hope. Each step seemed heavier than the last, the trees closing in around them like silent witnesses.
Meanwhile, hidden just beyond the edge of the clearing, a student had been watching. They had overheard the informer earlier, telling Lila's friends where she had run. A smirk crossed their face as they whispered to the boy who had been waiting anxiously nearby.
"She went this way," the student said, pointing toward the darker part of the forest.
The boy's heart raced. Without a second thought, he dashed toward the trail, weaving between roots and fallen branches. The forest seemed alive, shadows shifting with every step, as though it were testing his resolve.
And then—something caught his eye. A piece of cloth fluttered from a low branch. His pulse quickened. Lila had been here… but where had she gone now?
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