A sharp crack echoed through the forest.
I jerked upright, heartbeat slamming against my chest.
Another crack. Heavier and closer. Like boots breaking through dry twigs.
Then a voice boomed—
"Gather them all! Search the area!" Another voice answered instantly—
"Yes, Commander! If you find any girl—any woman—seize her immediately!"
Those words sliced through me sharper than the thorns ever could. My blood ran cold.
"What—what did he just say?"
I scrambled to my feet, heart hammering in my ears.
"Where am I?" I whispered. "What is this? What's happening now?"
More footsteps. Dozens of them. Marching. Getting closer.
I ducked behind the nearest tree, its bark rough against my spine. I pressed my body flat, willing myself to disappear.
Voices rang out again.
"Move fast! She couldn't have gotten far!"
"She was marked, right? We take them to the capital!"
"Even if she's not the one. All of them go."
I peeked around the trunk.
And I saw them.
Women.. both Young, old, and they were all terrified.
Being dragged through the underbrush by armored gaurds with silver masks and glowing weapons. Some were unconscious. Some were crying.
One screamed for her sister. Another clung to a tree before being yanked away like she weighed nothing.
I slapped a hand over my mouth.
My lungs couldn't move.
*What… is this?*
Tears pricked my eyes. My entire body was frozen.
And—
A whisper from deep in my gut.
"Screw this world."
I swallowed hard.
"How can they treat women like dogs?" I muttered under my breath. "What kind of place *is* this?"I clenched my fists.
"I can't just sit here."
my brain interrupted—
"But what if you get captured too? You don't even know where you are. You don't know their laws. You dont even know who or what they are. Or —whatever."
I pressed my back tighter against the tree, heart slamming, mouth dry.
"But I can't… I can't just watch this," I whispered. "It's wrong."
But what can you do? You're just one person.
I turned back to peek again, voice shaking now.
" I don't have any weapons. Hell, I barely passed self-defense class."
My breath hitched.
The sound of boots crunched closer.
"Search all areas!" someone shouted. "Let no one escape!"
I ducked quickly, holding my breath. My hands trembled.
"I can't let them see me…"
But just as I leaned closer to get a better look— A sharp pain shot through my shoulder.
"AH—" I yelped, biting my lip to muffle it. "Damn it!"
I looked back.
A thorn. Long. Black. Embedded in my skin.
I yanked back, but it clung to me like a hook.
Blood welled instantly.
"Of all the trees in the whole damn realm—of *course* I'd choose this one!"
Tears stung my eyes. I gritted my teeth, trying to pull it out.
But the pain—God, the pain.
It was like it had hit a nerve.
Every heartbeat made it worse. Every breath made it feel like fire had laced through my veins.
Then I heard it—
"What was that?"
Footsteps. Turning. Marching towards me.
I froze."No. No no no—"
"Someone screamed. That way!"
The voices grew louder.
I looked down at the blood on my hand.
My breath came out ragged.
"You're gonna get caught. You're bleeding. They heard you." I thought to myself feeling a mix of emotions, fear, anger, rush down my spine.
But something in me didn't care.
Not after seeing those women.
I pressed my hand over the wound, leaning against the tree.
All I wanted was to just survive and help those women at least. And go home.
I took a shaky breath and whispered, "Okay, Elira. Think. You can't fight them. But you can run.
The wind picked up.The thundering sound of large, might strong feet got closer.
And then—
A silver flash between the trees.
They were coming.
—
I took one deep breath and whispered, "Alright. You've survived a cracked magical mirror, a creepy vine forest, for what seemed like 12 hrs. Now walk away. Quietly."
I stepped out from behind the tree.
One foot. second foot.
Little did i expect—
"Hey! You there! Stop!"
I froze. Like a kid caught stealing snacks.
Slowly, I turned. There he was.
A soldier with silver armor, bright violet eyes, and the kind of expression that said he didn't miss much.
I gave him the most awkward smile I've ever smiled in my life.
"Uh... hi?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you? And how did you escape?"
"Escape?" I blinked. "Oh. Right. That."
I laughed. The fakest laugh I've ever let out.
"I'm, um… from the palace."
That was the dumbest excuse I could come up with.
He took a step closer.
"The palace?"
"Yep! The royal one. Big doors, fancy windows. Love what they've done with the thrones lately." I said letting out a soft yet akward chuckle.
His eyes dropped to my torn jeans and bloodstained after wear suit.
"Interesting choice of clothing for palace staff."
"Casual thursday?" I offered weakly.
He raised a brow.
"You're lying."
"Me? No. I'm… one of you."
"You're a human."
"What? No!" I coughed. "Nooo. That's insulting."
He stepped closer, hand going to the hilt of his glowing blade.
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my—
"Wait—uh, look! Over there! Your Majesty!"
"What?!"He turned.And I ran.
"HEY STOP THERE"!
Boots thundered behind me.
"GAURDS! This way! Go! GO GET HER!"
I screamed.Not because I was caught.But because I was running through an open field of *thorns*.
Massive, winding vines with jagged black barbs that sliced through my pants, scratched my legs, and caught on my arms like claws.
"Ow! Ow! Oh, COME ON!"
I ducked under a branch, pushed through a curtain of sharp leaves, and nearly twisted my ankle on a rock.
The air stank of ash and flowers.
Everything glowed in weird purples and blues. Trees twisted like bones. The field stretched on, wild and endless.
I couldnt help but think to myself.. how on earth did i go from sprinting to get to the museum to draw a plain mirror, so I could finish my art intern. To getting drawn into a wierd and unhinged world. And now?
im being chased like a thief by some wierd guards.
Behind me, the soldiers cursed and shouted.
"She went this way!"
"I see her trail!"
"I SWEAR I'M INNOCENT!" I shouted over my shoulder. "I JUST WANT TO GO HOME!"
The ground shifted under me.
One bad step. And My foot slammed into a stone hidden in the grass.
I pitched forward, arms flailing.
And there, just ahead of me was—-
A pit filled with sharp edged thorns that went deep down like a well. Just waiting for Me.
"NO—!" was this really the end for me?. I saw my life flash through my eyes. All my past memories played like a scene in my head. I shut my eyes. I was going to die.
I braced for impact.