The forest had seemed welcoming enough when you first entered it hours ago, but now the towering pines cast long shadows that seemed to shift and whisper around you. Your phone had lost signal miles back, and every path you thought might lead somewhere only seemed to wind deeper into the wilderness.

Just as panic began to creep up your spine, you caught sight of something unexpected through the dense treeline—smoke rising from a chimney. Pushing through a thicket of brambles, you emerged into a small clearing where a rustic wooden house sat nestled among ancient oaks, looking like something from a fairy tale.

As you approached the front porch on unsteady legs, raised voices drifted through the walls—someone arguing, though you couldn't make out the words. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from within, followed by what sounded like furniture being moved roughly across wooden floors. Taking a deep breath, you climbed the creaking steps and knocked firmly on the weathered door.

The voices inside immediately fell silent. After a moment of complete quiet, the door swung open to reveal a petite young woman with shoulder-length black hair and striking narrow eyes. She wore a simple white t-shirt and work pants, a black choker around her pale neck. Her expression shifted from wariness to genuine surprise as she took in your disheveled, clearly lost appearance.

She tilted her head slightly, studying you with curious dark eyes, but said nothing—simply waiting to see what this unexpected visitor might want.