The storm behind Mary roared louder than ever. Its howls, like faceless monsters shrieking from the sky, crashed down to the earth. Mary stood at the edge of the forest—undecided, unprotected, and utterly alone. Every drop of rain seemed to carry an unspoken message, and each bolt of lightning reminded her that time was running out.
The trees before her, cloaked in black and silence, stood like cold, indifferent sentinels, making the path ahead feel nearly impassable. Between their twisted branches, a dim gray light flickered—like distant eyes, watching. The forest yawned open like a mouth—dark, mysterious, and beckoning—with no promise of salvation.
Mary's gaze shifted between the furious sky behind her and the eerie quiet ahead. Her heart pounded, like a drum calling her to a ceremony whose meaning she didn't yet know. She waited—hoping someone would step out of the rain. Someone to tell her which way to go. Someone to say it wasn't too late. Someone to...
But no one came. And the silence settled on her shoulders like a heavy cloak.
She wrapped her arms around herself, as if to protect what little courage she had left. For a brief moment, she stepped back. Maybe it wasn't too late to turn around. Maybe the forest wasn't as terrifying as it looked—maybe it was just her mind. But then, the voice of the girl in yellow echoed in her memory:
"The storm isn't that big..."
And just then, a new sound—soft and steady—came from the other side. Footsteps. Light and certain.
Mary turned quickly. A girl dressed in green emerged quietly from the mist. Her face was hidden behind a silver mask. Long hair flowed from under her hood, dancing in the wind.
She stopped beside Mary—not hurried, not anxious. Calm. Certain.
With a clear, firm voice, she said,
"It's time. Come with me."
Mary took a few steps back. Her voice trembled,
"Who... who are you? When did you get here? Why are you wearing a mask?"
The girl tilted her head slightly, like someone sharing a secret with an old friend.
"I've been here. Always. You just didn't see me. I only came closer when your fear grew. The mask is to protect my face from the storm. I'm going into the forest too. I'm alone. But maybe... with you, it will be easier."
Mary stared into her eyes. They gleamed behind the mask—not afraid, not emotionless. Just... determined.
But Mary's thoughts were still tangled. A whisper deep inside her murmured:
"Don't go back... keep moving..."
And then, another voice—clear, yet not spoken—said:
"This is a trap. Don't go. There's no way back once you enter the forest..."
Mary exhaled shakily.
"But... are you sure? Maybe the storm isn't as bad as it seems. The girl in yellow said it's safe. She said it's not as big as it looks. But the forest... it's dark. Full of things I don't understand. Do you really want to go in there?"
The green-cloaked girl glanced into the depths of the shadows. A slight smile touched her lips.
"Some things only become clear when you walk into the dark."
And Mary stood—between two voices, between two girls, and between two worlds.