After few hours, they finally gathered together again in the village square. The sun had begun to dip, casting long shadows across the dusty ground. A tense silence lingered in the air.
Sreyan broke it first, glancing sideways.
"Hey… why is she glaring at you like that?"
Astha didn't even bother to look. He crossed his arms casually and replied, "She likes me."
"You—" Xingxing's glare only intensified, her eyes narrowing sharply.
Sreyan blinked, unsure whether to laugh or step back. "..."
Before things could escalate further, Sian stepped in, scanning the group. "Where's Riju?"
Almost on cue, Riju appeared from the narrow alley beside the houses. His clothes were disheveled, his hair messy, and there was something uneasy in his expression.
Sian frowned. "What happened to you?"
"Nothing," Riju replied quietly, avoiding everyone's eyes.
There was a brief pause, but no one pushed him further.
Sian straightened up, his tone turning serious. "Alright, everyone. Let's focus. We need to ask the villagers about the missing childrens."
James nodded in agreement. "We should start with the children's parents. They might know something important."
Everyone exchanged glances before nodding. The earlier tension faded, replaced by a shared determination.
Something was wrong in this village… and they were about to find out what.
The group split into pairs and moved through the village, the weight of unease pressing heavier with each step.
Sian and James headed toward a house at the edge of the square. Its wooden door creaked as Sian knocked. After a moment, it opened just a crack. A tired-looking woman peeked out, her eyes red as if she hadn't slept for days.
"We're here to ask about your child," James said gently.
At the mention of it, her lips trembled. She opened the door wider, letting them in. The inside of the house was dim, the air thick with silence.
"He… he disappeared a week ago," she whispered. "No sound, no trace. Just gone."
Sian's expression hardened. "Did you notice anything unusual?"
The woman hesitated, as if replaying the memory in her mind.
Then she shook her head weakly. "No… he was a bright child. Always smiling." Her voice began to break. "That evening… he was so happy. He said he was going out to play…"
Her words faltered.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she covered her mouth, trying to hold back the sobs—but failing.
"I told him not to stay out too late…" she choked. "I told him…"
James lowered his gaze, his jaw tightening. Sian stood still, the weight of her grief settling heavily on him.
Meanwhile, Sreyan, Astha and Yug walked along a narrow path lined with huts. Xingxing followed them at a distance, still visibly annoyed.
"So," Sreyan muttered, nudging Astha, "you're enjoying this a bit too much, aren't you?"
Astha shrugged lightly. "What? I didn't say anything wrong."
"You literally said she likes you."
At that, Yug—walking slightly behind—stiffened, his expression tightening for just a second.
"She does," Astha replied calmly.
From behind them, Xingxing snapped, "Keep dreaming."
Sreyan sighed. "And we're back to this…"
They approached an elderly man sitting outside his home. His hands trembled, his eyes unfocused as he looked at them.
"Did you see my Jimin…?" he asked suddenly. "Did you?"
Before they could respond, a tall, bald man rushed out from the house.
"Dad, what are you doing?" he said, gently placing a hand on the old man's shoulder. Then he looked at the group, his expression apologetic. "I'm sorry… he's been like this ever since my four-year-old son, Jimin, disappeared."
His voice trembled.
Astha's expression softened slightly. "It's okay. Can you tell us what happened?"
The man hesitated, but before he could answer, the old man spoke again—his voice low and shaking.
"It's the forest," he said. "It takes them. Always has."
Astha's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean 'always'?"
The old man slowly looked up. Fear flickered in his cloudy eyes.
"In this 2 years childrens disappear" he whispered. "And those who go looking…"
His voice faltered.
"They don't come back the same."
A chill ran through the air.
Not far away, the twin sisters stepped back outside into the fading light.
"Forest again," muttered. "That's the third person."
Zoya nodded slowly, her gaze drifting toward the distant tree line.
"Then that's where we're going."
Far beyond the village, the forest stood silent… dark… and waiting.
As they regrouped in the square, the sky had turned a deep orange. Riju stood slightly apart from the others, unusually quiet.
"We've got a lead," Sian announced. "The forest."
At that, Riju stiffened.
Astha noticed immediately. "You've already been there, haven't you?"
Everyone turned toward him.
Riju hesitated, his hands clenching at his sides. "…Yes."
Sreyan frowned. "And you said 'nothing' happened?"
Riju slowly looked up. For a moment, his eyes seemed… different. Darker.
"There's something in there," he said quietly. "Something that watches you."
A cold breeze passed through the village, as if on cue.
Xingxing crossed her arms, though her voice was steadier than she felt. "Good. Then we'll go see it ourselves."
Sian took a deep breath. "We move at dawn."
Riju shook his head.
"No," he whispered.
Everyone paused.
"…If you go at night," he continued, his voice trembling slightly, "it comes closer."
Silence fell over the group.
Far beyond the village, the forest stood still and silent—waiting.
The forest swallowed them whole.
What had once seemed like a distant, silent boundary now pressed in from all sides—dense, towering trees blotting out the fading light. The air was damp, thick, and unnaturally cold. Every step felt… wrong. Like they weren't meant to be there.
And then—
They lost each other.
Not all at once. Not dramatically. Just… gradually. One wrong turn. One moment of distraction. One shadow too many.
Until the group was no longer a group.
Yug and Astha
Branches snapped softly underfoot as Yug pushed through a cluster of low-hanging vines. He glanced back.
Astha was right behind him.
Of course he was.
But instead of focusing on the path, Astha had plucked a strange, pale flower and casually placed it between his lips.
Yug stopped abruptly.
"…Don't eat that."
Astha didn't even look at him.
He bit into it.
Yug exhaled sharply, stepping forward and yanking the flower out of his mouth.
"I said don't eat it."
Astha blinked once, unfazed.
Yug shoved something into his hand. "Eat this instead."
Astha looked down.
Chocolate.
Then back up at Yug—who very pointedly avoided eye contact.
"…What?" Yug muttered. "I'm not a sweet lover. My nephew gave it to me."
A pause.
Astha hummed quietly, slipping the chocolate into his mouth.
"…Hmm."
And just like that, he walked ahead.
Yug stood there for a second, jaw tightening slightly… before following.
Somewhere Else — Zoya
"Help… help… help…"
The voice was faint.
Broken.
Desperate.
Zoya froze.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"…Riya?"
The whisper came again, clearer this time.
"Zoya… help me…"
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"It's Riya's voice," she whispered to herself, panic rising. "Riya!"
She stumbled forward, pushing past branches, eyes scanning frantically.
"Riya! Where are you?!"
"Zoya… help me…"
"I'm coming! Just—keep talking!"
The voice pulled her deeper.
Further.
Away.
"Riya?!"
Silence.
Then—
Right behind her ear—
"Hehe…"
Zoya froze.
A small, cold hand clamped around her throat from behind.
Her body locked.
"Caught you."
The whisper was wrong.
Too playful.
Too… inhuman.
Her breath hitched violently as invisible fingers tightened, cutting off her air. Tears spilled silently down her cheeks, her hands trembling as she tried to pry the grip away.
She couldn't move.
She couldn't breathe.
The forest seemed to close in, watching.
Waiting.
TWAKK—!
Something sliced through the air.
A sharp crack echoed.
The grip vanished instantly.
A shrill, distorted scream tore through the trees—
"Aaaahhh—!"
For a split second, Zoya saw it—
A shadow. Small. Twisted.
A child-shaped thing with hollow eyes—
And a stick lodged through its hand.
Then—
It was gone.
Just… gone.
Zoya collapsed to her knees, gasping violently, clutching her throat.
Air. She needed air.
"Are you okay?"
The voice was calm.
Steady.
Too steady for what just happened.
Zoya looked up, vision blurred with tears.
Astha stood there, holding another stick loosely in his hand, his expression unreadable.
"Haa… haaah… th-thank… you…" she choked out.
He crouched slightly, placing a gentle hand on her head.
"It's okay."
His tone didn't change.
Not even slightly.
But for some reason—
It grounded her.
Her breathing slowly steadied.
Behind them, the forest shifted.
Quiet again.
Too quiet.
As if nothing had happened.
As if it was waiting…
Alright—let's continue with the rest of the
Sian,Riya and James
The deeper they walked, the quieter it became.
No insects.
No wind.
Not even the sound of their own footsteps felt real anymore—like the forest was swallowing it before it could exist.
James slowed. "Do you hear that?"
Sian stopped.
"…No."
"That's the problem."
A pause.
Then—
Footsteps.
Behind them.
Soft.
Measured.
Riya turned instantly. "Who's there?"
Nothing.
Just trees.
James forced a small breath. "Probably one of the others—"
A voice cut in.
"…James…"
Everyone froze.
It came from ahead this time.
Faint.
Familiar.
"…Mom?"
James's face drained of color.
Sian's eyes narrowed sharply. "That's not real."
"…You left me…"
The voice cracked. Weak. Hurt.
James took a step forward.
"Stop," Sian said, firm.
"…Why didn't you come back…?"
James's hand trembled slightly.
"…I didn't—"
"James." Sian's voice hardened. "That's not her."
The trees ahead shifted.
And for a brief moment—
A figure stood there.
A woman.
Still.
Head slightly tilted.
Face hidden in shadow.
"…Come closer…"
James inhaled sharply.
Then—
Sian grabbed his arm and yanked him back.
"Move."
The figure's head snapped upward—
Too fast.
Too wrong.
A wide, unnatural smile stretched across its face.
Then it vanished.
The silence returned.
James exhaled shakily, running a hand through his hair. "…Yeah. Not real."
Sian didn't respond.
His grip on the knife at his side tightened.
Sreyan and Xingxing
"You notice something?" Sreyan muttered.
Xingxing didn't look at him. "That you talk too much?"
"No. That this place hates us."
"…Obviously."
They walked side by side, tension thick between them—but not the same kind as before. This was sharper. Alert.
Survival.
Then—
A child ran across the path ahead.
Barefoot.
Fast.
Gone in a blink.
Both of them stopped.
"…You saw that, right?" Sreyan said.
"Yes."
"Good. Not losing my mind alone."
A soft giggle echoed through the trees.
Xingxing's expression hardened.
"Come out," Sreyan snapped.
Another giggle.
Closer this time.
From behind.
They turned—
Nothing.
Then—
Hands.
Small.
Dirty.
Grabbing at Sreyan's sleeve.
He jerked back instantly. "Hey—!"
Three children stood there now.
Still.
Silent.
Their heads tilted at the same unnatural angle.
"Do you want to play?" one of them asked.
Its voice echoed strangely, like multiple voices speaking at once
They smiled.
Slowly.
Wider.
Too wide.
"Play with us."
The air shifted.
The ground beneath their feet felt… unstable.
Sreyan's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Run."
They didn't hesitate.
They turned—and ran.
Behind them, laughter exploded through the forest.
High-pitched.Broken.
Not human.
Meanwhile — Zoya
Zoya had just steadied her breathing, her hand still trembling against her throat—
Crunch.
Footsteps.
Not theirs.
Her body went rigid.
From between the trees, Yug stepped into view, eyes sharp, scanning every shadow.
"We need to move," he said quickly, glancing at her and Astha. "It's not safe here."
Before Zoya could respond—
"Zoya?!"
The voice cut through the forest like a blade.
Familiar.
Panicked.
Her heart skipped.
"…Riya?"
Riya rushed out of the darkness, pale and shaken. "Zoya, what happened to you?!"
Zoya didn't think.
She ran forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her.
"Riya!" Her voice broke. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Riya said quickly, holding her just as tightly. "But you—what happened?"
Before she could answer—
More footsteps.
Sian and James emerged, tense and alert.
"Misha, Yug," Sian called, scanning everyone. "Are you all okay?"
"For now," Yug replied.
Sian's gaze shifted to Zoya.
He saw everything—the trembling, the marks on her throat, the fear she couldn't hide.
His expression darkened.
"…What happened?"
Zoya pulled back slightly but didn't let go of Riya's hand.
"There's something in the forest," she said shakily. "It… it mimics voices."
Riya froze.
"It sounded like you," Zoya continued. "It called me… and when I followed…"
Her fingers tightened.
"…it grabbed me."
Silence fell.
Heavy.Suffocating.
Zoya broke.
Tears streamed down her face as her shoulders shook.
Riya immediately pulled her close, gently stroking her hair. "Hey… it's okay. I'm here. You're safe."
A cold wind passed through the trees.
Whispers followed.
Soft.
Watching.Waiting.
Sian stepped forward, voice firm.
"We leave. Now. We find the others and get out."
No one argued.They moved Together.
Moments Later
Branches snapped under hurried footsteps—
Sreyan and Xingxing burst into view, slightly breathless but unharmed.
Relief flickered across the group.
"Beautiful," Sreyan exhaled dramatically. "Thank heaven you're all okay."
A faint, strained smile appeared.
But it didn't last.
A scream tore through the forest.
"Aaaahhhhhh—!"
Raw.
Terrified.
Human.
Every head snapped toward the sound.
Sian's expression hardened instantly. "That's one of ours."
Yug was already moving. "This way."
"No splitting up!" Sian ordered.
They ran.Fast.
Branches lashed against them.
The forest grew darker.
Colder.Heavier.
As if something was pulling them in.
Guiding them.
Another scream echoed.Closer.
Then—
Cut off.Silence.They slowed.
Just slightly.
The quiet felt wrong.Too wrong.
Sreyan muttered, "Yeah… this is definitely a trap."
"…Stay sharp," Sian replied.
They pushed forward—
And then—They saw him.
Kiupa
Kiupa was suspended in the air.
Vines coiled tightly around his body—his arms pinned, chest constricted.
They were alive.
Moving.Tightening.Strangling.
Kiupa struggled desperately, his breath coming in broken gasps.
"I—can't—breathe—!"
A soft giggle echoed around them.
The same one.
The forest was watching.
Enjoying it.
Sian reacted instantly.
He rushed forward, pulling out his knife.
"I've got you!"
He slashed at the vines—
One snapped.
Then another—
But suddenly—
A vine shot toward him from the side.
Fast.
Sharp.
Aimed straight for his neck—
THWACK!
A wooden stick pierced through it mid-air, cutting it cleanly in half.
Everyone froze for a split second.
Astha stood a few steps away, his arm lowering slowly.
Calm.Precise.
Like he'd already calculated it.
Sian didn't waste the moment.
He turned and slashed rapidly—
Cutting through the remaining vines.
Kiupa dropped to the ground, gasping violently, clutching his chest.
"Breathe," James said quickly, helping him up.
"You're okay—breathe."
Sian looked up."…We need to move. Now."
But it was already too late.
The ground shifted.
All around them—
The vines began to move.
Slowly at first.Then faster.
Crawling across the ground.
Sliding down trees.Reaching.Hunting.
A vine lunged toward Astha—Yug grabbed his arm and pulled him back just in time.
Another shot toward Sreyan—He barely dodged it. "Okay—nope! Definitely not staying!"
"Move!" Sian shouted.
The forest came alive.
Vines lashed from every direction—Sharp.Fast.Relentless.
Astha stepped forward slightly, eyes scanning everything—Calculating.
Watching patterns.Waiting.
"Stay together!" Sian yelled.
They fought to move—Dodging.
Pulling each other back.
Cutting through anything that got too close.
The vines weren't random.They were coordinated.
Learning.Adapting.And above it all—
That giggle echoed again.
Closer this time.Right above them.
Something was controlling it.Watching them struggle.
Playing with them.The forest wasn't just alive.
It was hunting them.
Will they escape??