The evening settled gently over the forest as the golden rays of the setting sun filtered through the tall trees. A cool breeze carried the fresh scent of pine and damp earth, while birds sang their final songs returning to their nests.

As darkness slowly conquered the sky, the group gathered around a crackling campfire. Orange flames dancing brightly, sending tiny sparks into the night like glowing fireflies. The warmth of the fire chased away the evening chill, creating a cozy circle of light in the middle of the quiet forest.

Some friends laughed loudly, sharing funny stories and teasing one another. The couples sat close together, roasting marshmallows over the fire and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. Soft music played from a portable speaker, blending with the sounds of chirping crickets and rustling leaves.

Above them, countless stars began to appear in the night sky, and a silver moon peeked through the branches, bathing the forest in a gentle glow. It was a beautiful unforgettable evening -- one that seemed perfect.

But... Hidden beyond the circle of fire light, the dark forest stood silent, mysterious, and Waiting...

Among the cheerful laughter and smiling faces sat one girl, forcing a smile that never reached her eyes. While everyone around her enjoyed the warmth of the campfire with their partners, she felt like an outsider.

She quietly picked up another cup of alcohol and drank it in one gulp. The bitter taste did nothing to ease the loneliness in her heart. One drink became too, then three, until the world around her began to blur.

" I'm just going for a walk, "

She murmured... though no one seemed to hear her over the laughter.

Without waiting for anyone to notice, she walked away from the campsite. At first, she simply wanted a little peace and quiet. The cool night Breeze brushed against her face as she wandered between the tall trees.

Step by step, she kept walking, lost in her thoughts. The music from the campfire faded into the distance, replaced by the chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves.

After several minutes, she stopped and looked around.

The campfire was gone. The familiar path had disappeared...

Her smile faded as panic slowly filled her heart.

" Hello...?" she called out, her voice trembling.

Only silence answered her.

She turned in another direction, hoping to find her friends, but every tree looked the same. The deeper or she walked, the darker the forest became. Her breathing grew heavier as fear replaced the effects of the alcohol.

"I... I'm lost..."

For the first time that night, she realized she was completely alone in the endless darkness of the forest.

A cold breeze swept through the forest, making the branches sway above her. The silence around her felt strange, as if the entire forest stopped breathing.

She hugged herself tightly and took another cautious step.

Crack...

The sound of a twig snapping echoed behind her.

She froze.

Slowly, she turned around.

"Who's there ?" she asked, her voice shaking.

No one answered.

She let out a nervous laugh, trying to convince herself it was only a wild animal. Turning back, she hurried along the narrow path.

Crack... Crack...

The footsteps came again.

This time, they were closer.

Her heart pounded wildly against her chest. She spun around once more.

In the darkness, between the tall trees, she noticed a shadowy figure standing motionless.

Her eyes widened.

"N-No..."

The figure took a slow step forward.

She screamed and ran as fast as she could. Branches scratched her arms, and thorns tore at her clothes, but she didn't dare look back. All she could hear were her own frantic breaths and the sound of something following her through the forest.

"Help! Somebody... Please help!" she cried.

Tears blurred her vision as she stumbled over rocks and Tangled roots. Her legs were growing weaker, but fear kept pushing her forward.

Suddenly--

"Ah!"

Her foot caught on a thick tree root.

She was thrown forward, hitting the ground hard. A sharp pain shot through her head as it struck a rock.

The world around her spun.

Her vision became blurry, and the sounds of the forest slowly faded away.

With one final frightened glance into the darkness, she lost consciousness.

The silent forest swallowed her cries as she lay motionless beneath the moonlit trees.

What will happen to her ? Will she be saved ?

Read in chapter 2 😉

In a small town lived the young man. Life had never been easy for him. Growing up alone in poverty, he learned from an early age that no one else would build a future for him. Every hard ship strengthened his determination and he made himself one promise--- to work hard, earn money honestly, and create the life he had always dreamed of.

Despite his difficult past, he never let bitterness take over his heart. he was kind to everyone he met, always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. His gentle nature earned him the respect of the people around him.

He was also strikingly handsome. His sharp features, sparkling eyes and warm smile easily caught people's attention. Many girls in town admired him and tried to get close to him, but he never encouraged their feelings, love was never his priority. To him success came first.

One weekend hoping to take a break from his busy routine he booked a forest trip through a local tourist company. he had always loved photography and the peaceful wilderness seemed like a perfect place to clear his mind.

Early the next morning, wearing a comfortable jacket, carrying a backpack over his shoulders and holding his favorite camera in his hands, he arrived at the entrance of the vast forest near his town.

A smile appeared on his face as he looked at the towering trees stretching toward the sky.

" What a beautiful place," he whispered to himself.

Filled with excitement and curiosity he stepped into the forest unaware that this journey was about to change his life forever.

The beauty of the forest completely captured his attention. Every corner seemed like a painting waiting to be discovered. The boy captured everything. He felt everything magical capturing every view in his camera lens.

He walked deeper into the forest stopping every few minutes to take pictures. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he captured moments that most people would never notice.

Time passed without him realizing it.

By the time he looked at the sky again, the golden evening light had disappeared. Darkness slowly covered the forest and the ones familiar paths became difficult to see.

" Looks like I stayed too long, " he murmured.

Knowing it was unsafe to continue walking at night he found a suitable place and set up his tent. After arranging is belongings, he sat inside and looked through the pictures he had taken that day.

Each photo reminded him of peaceful moments he had experienced.

But then, one picture got his attention.

He zoomed in.

Behind the large Rock in the background, there was something unusual.

A hand.

His expression changed.

" Is that... a person?"

For a moment, he thought about going to check. If someone was hurt, they might need help. but the forest was completely dark now and he couldn't see what was beyond The rocks.

A thousand thoughts crossed his mind.

"What if it's dangerous?"

Reluctantly, he decided to wait until morning. He told himself that he would search the place when there was enough light.

Even though he tried to forget about it, the image of that hand stayed in his mind.

After a while, exhaustion took over. Lying inside the tent, he slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Deep in the night, he suddenly saw a dream.

A girl was lying alone in the darkness, her hand reaching out as if begging someone for help.

"Please... "

Her voice echoed through the forest.

He saw the same hand from the picture.

The hand that needed help.

He suddenly opened his eyes, breathing heavily.

The dream felt too real.

Without thinking twice, he grabbed his flashlight and ran out of the tent. The forest was silent under the moonlight as he hurried toward the place where he had seen the hand.

He searched behind the rocks, around the trees and along the nearby path.

But there was nothing.

No person.

No sign of anyone.

Only the cold when moving through the leaves.

After searching for a long time, he finally stopped. Disappointment filled his heart.

" Was it just my imagination?"

He looked around one last time before slowly returning to his tent.

It was the next morning ! he again went to search for the girl. He couldn't find anything so he went to the bus stop, he was pulling himself to the bustop but his heart stayed there.

The bus has arrived, but he was still thinking of that person, the moment he was stepping on the bus he couldn't stop himself but to go to the Person in need.

He all of a sudden ran away again to the same place and searched again. he searched everywhere but did not find anything... He was stepping back with disappointment slowly, then suddenly he found that he was stepped on something when he turned around he saw that it was a hand and there was a beautiful girl lying down, She was unconscious with wounds on her body and forehead. Her clothes were torn. The boy felt pity on the girl, so he took her to his tent and applied medicine on wounds. He observed that she got a severe wound on her forehead and wondered

" who is she?

" why is she in this state? "

Later he searched for water to clean the wounds, but found that the bottle was empty, so went out to find some water.

Later, when he came back he was shocked to see.....!

When our male lead came back to his tent with some fruits and water, he was shocked to see that, there was no one in the tent.

ML: " where is she ? Where could she have gone ? "

He was so worried, he searched everywhere, looked around the tent inside out, but he couldn't find her anywhere.

He thinks " Maybe she came to consciousness and went her way, but where could she go in this dark and dangerous forest. Also it's already getting dark " he wonders...

Later, It became night, it was the second night for him in this forest, all the tourists who came with him for the trip went back, he is the only one left in this dark forest.

He sleeps in his tent and thinks...

" Looks like I am the only one left here, I missed the one and only bus to help a stranger girl, at last.. I was left alone, What a fate, hmm..." sighs in himself.

Later in the middle of the night, when he was in deep sleep, the night was sooo calm, no one was around him, suddenly some sounds were coming out of the tent, by hearing those sounds, he woke up...he was hesitating.. but slowly opened his eyes to check what that sound was and saw a shadow moving outside his tent. It's been moving around his tent for a long time.

He immediately took the torch beside him, got up and walked slowwly towards the shadow...he was nervous but shouted loudly " Who is there ? ! Why are you roaming around my tent ? ". Immediately that shadow runs away.

He was like " God almighty, What is that ? It scared me to hell, Looks like It is not safe to stay here anymore, I have to go from here immediately tomorrow morning "

He was frightened and decided to go as soon as possible from here.

It was the next morning... The sun rises slowly, bringing its bright light into the boys tent, waking him up gently.

Due to that sunny light facing his tent, the boy wakes up making him more charismatic and energetic. He walks out of the tent, enjoys the rising sun..... but suddenly the shadow from last night flashes in his mind, he all of a sudden trembled with fear and says---

" I don't think it is time for me to enjoy the sunrise, I must hurry up "

Immediately runs into the tent and starts packing.

As decided, he packed all his belongings and was ready to go to his town.

ML: " Finally, I can escape from this dangerous forest, I am not gonna come here ever again. "

By carrying his luggage he is walking to the bus stop, he suddenly feels something is not right on the way, he stops and turns back to check, but no one is there.

ML: " What is this, I can sense that something is strange, but nothing is here, What's happening ? "

And continues his walk to the bus stop, again he hears some strange sound coming from behind, so he stops and turns back again, but no one is there.

ML: " What is that sound, I am not able to figure out what's happening exactly...! "

He suddenly thinks...

" Is it the shadow from last night...? It's still following me... ? !!! "

" Holy god ! What does it want exactly from me. I am the only one left in my family on this earth, I can't die in this forest ?"

He was shivering from head to toe and all of a sudden started running with fear, not even giving a glance at the back.

He finally reached the bus stop and there was a bus ready to dispatch, he immediately got on to the bus and relaxed peacefully.

" Finally, I caught the bus, now I can go back home, there's no way I am gonna come here again !... "

He is now very relaxed and happy that he was leaving this forest, when the cool breeze from outside came through the window, he slowly rested his head on to the window, closed his eyes and started thinking ---

" It's been only 2 days in this forest, but already I feel like I haven't rested for a whole week, Ufff... This is the worst experience I have faced in my life. "

After some time ...

The bus started, after travelling for some distance, there was a fight started in the bus, the people in the bus were also murmuring about something, Our male lead heard all this noise, woke up...thinks...

" What's this fuss about again " and turned back---

The movement he turned back, his eyes were shocked and became wide, by watching the scene. He was like

" What the hell ? Is she really her? looks like I still have to face difficulties in this forest "....

To be continued....

Moral of the story-- one can never escape one's fate 😉

When our male lead heard all the noise in the bus, he got frustrated for disturbing his sleep, he woke up and turned back...

The movement he turned back, he was shocked, and his eyes became wide to see the scene in front of him.

It was the girl... he saved in the forest.

ML- " What the hell...! How come she is here, I guess there are still troubles waiting for me,..Godd...!? "

*Poor boy he doesn't know what is waiting for him----*

The bus groaned along the dusty mountain road, its windows rattling with every pothole. The boy sat near the window, his eyes fixed on the girl across the aisle. Only yesterday he had dragged her unconscious body from the edge of a forest stream. She had woken with frightened eyes, unable---or unwilling---to say a single word.

Now she sat quietly, staring out of the window as though the passing trees held all the answers she had forgotten.

He leaned forward.

" Do you remember your name?"

Silence.

"Where are you from?"

She slowly turned to him, her expression blank. Not confusion. Not fear. Just emptiness.

The conductor approached, punching tickets. "Tickets!"

He paid for both of them. And continue to ask questions-

" How did you came into the bus ? " with a gentle tone...

There is no response from her... she is just looking at him with a blank face and big eyes. Our male lead was confused by her look, both are sitting closely side by side... facing each other.. Looking at each other's eyes in a confused state. Then our boy--

" What is this, Why is she not answering, is it that she can't speak...? " He thinks in himself and again takes a deep breath and tells---

" Uff... Ok, I will ask you again, Who are you ?? How did you come into the bus ? How did you end up in this dark forest ?? " He asks all his questions curiously and continuously which are the ones he holds from the past two days.

The girl was still looking with a blank face, the boy was not even giving a gap for her to speak, he was continuously asking questions...she suddenly shouted--

" Ooh...If you ask all the questions at a time, how will I answer...! ? "

The whole bus remained silent for her voice, all the passengers were looking at them... Then the boy stood and apologized.

" Gentlemen... sorry for the disturbance, Sorry for the disturbance madam, please continue What you are doing "

Then he sat and told her--

" You don't need to shout that way, my hearing capacity is completely good ! "

" Ok now tell me, Who are you ? How did you come to this forest ?? "

By hearing those questions, the girl was very confused and thinking about who she is--

FL: " I... I am... me... Who am I ? "

Our male lead was confused and told

ML: " That's what I am asking, Who are you ? "

FL: " Me... me... I think I don't know who I am...! "

ML: " What_ ? ", " What do you mean you don't know who you are ? "

" Then...

your name ! what about your name, do you know it ? "

FL: " Name... Which name...? "

Our female lead was confused for the boys questions, she was not able to answer any of the questions that the boy was asking. She was confused, frustrated and feeling discomfort in her head.

Meanwhile, the boy was thinking--

" What's happening here ? "

" Is what I just now listened to is really true ? When I saved her in the forest, I saw a severe wound on her head, now she is saying she doesn't know who she is. "

" That means...that means... Did she really lose her memory, she really didn't know who she was "

" Holy shit, how can this happen ? Now what should I do with her "

He asked her " Did you at least remember how you came into this forest ?, how you were wounded ? "

The girl replied " I... I don't know..., " slowly with a low voice. Then she suddenly said " But I remember you.. I remember that it was you who holded me in your arms that day and took me to a tent "

ML: " Really...? Did you really remember that...? It's good to hear... but Why did you suddenly run away from the tent, I didn't see you when I came back. " asked curiously.

FL : " That is... When I woke up, I was in a new place, I didn't understand what was happening, I was afraid...so I ran away. "

" But I didn't go far away, I was just beside your tent, but you didn't even recognize me " The girl laughed with a smirk.

ML: " Hold on,... if you were beside the tent, why didn't I know that " asked suspiciously.

FL: " You already know that,... That day when I am feeling cold, I thought to come into the tent, but u suddenly shouted, WHO IS THERE, WHY ARE YOU ROAMING AROUND MY TENT, then I got nervous, and I ran away "

The boy was very shocked to hear--

" What..? That day it was you who was roaming around my tent...? ! " Asked loudly and thinks in himself--

" Oh man! What a coward you are...you were afraid of this little girl that day...! " Embarrassed in himself.

FL: " What happened ? Did you not know it was me ? But I thought you already knew it "

" I Also followed you to this bus stop, Did you not know this also...!? "

ML: He thinks in himself " How are you such a fool..!, You thought this little is the beast that followed you here...? Shame on you...! "

He looked down on himself for being nervous for no reason.

After some time, the girl's stomach rumbled so loudly that a few passengers chuckled.

The boy looks at her.

" I am hungry, I have not eaten anything since yesterday..! " She replies sadly.

The boy feels sorry for her situation, not remembering anything about herself and suffering with hunger, he thinks---

" If I did not find her, what would happen to her, Only thinking it was giving me terror. In one way I say that she is lucky to be found by me. "

He replies her--

" Wait for some time, when we get down I will buy you something to eat. "

While the boy was talking to her, the girl suddenly saw a tree full of fruits through the window, Her facial expressions suddenly changed, her face lit, she... On the spot immediately stood and was about to Jump out of the bus... The boy immediately caught her and shouted---

" What are you doing, Are you crazy ? "

The girl says " Leave me, I want fruits...! "

The girl tried to release herself from the boy's hands, but he caught her wrist so tightly that she couldn't release.

All the passengers in the bus along with the boy were shocked and surprised with her reaction.

All the passengers in the bus were murmuring " what is this ? Is she still a girl ? Is she crazy ? She wants to die or want ? "

The conductor stepped between them, he tried to stop her

" Sit down! No jumping from the bus! "

The girl frowned, as if she couldn't understand his words. Hunger had taken over every other thought. she pushed the conductor away with surprising strength. She missed the balance, The boy caught her immediately, but the conductor stumbled backward into another passenger and he got injured too.

The bus has been in chaos.

Now the conductor throws a tantrum at the girl.

" Stop the bus !!! Both of you, get off !

The bus doors shut, moments later, it disappeared in a cloud of dust leaving both of them in the middle of the forest alone...

There was no one except them... There were only trees around them, The only cool breeze coming from the forest is their company now, along with the falling sun and the rising moon....

The boy never expected this could happen to him, if he knew earlier...maybe he won't even dare come to this forest trip to face this troublesome journey...

Let's see what will happen to them in the middle of this forest, will there be any key to open the doors of their hearts... ??

To be continued...