The steps grew quicker, and every now and then, the sound would stop before picking up the speed again. Lia slowly rose, body tense and alert as she strained her ears to determine where the footsteps were coming from. The louder it sounded, the harder the beat of her heart became. Her modern, sheltered life did not prepare her for physical attacks. She could only tune in to the sound and hoped that whatever or whoever that was would change direction. Preferably, away from her spot.

“Lia? Lia!”

Oh shit. She uttered without a sound for fear that even a single hiss would tell her location.

“Lia! Please answer if you hear me.” There was a trace of helplessness in the voice. But that made Lia even more nervous and more vigilant. She looked around for anything that might help her protect herself.

Lia held her breath as she listened closely but not daring to make a move. The steps were coming closer and closer, the person still calling out her name. That was definitely the sound of a female voice. And she was calling… wait. Lia’s name? Was this her world after all? That was not the voice of her mother, no. Someone who knew her, at least. But who? And if she did not change worlds, why the difference in appearance? She felt an oncoming headache. Yet, something still nagged at the back of her head that she could not point a finger to.

‘So much for peace.’ She clicked her tongue as she racked her brain for any memories or something that would make her remember. The memories flashed like a bad TV signal.

“Lia!” the person called.

Lia frowned. Huh. What if the owner of the body was also named Lia? She chuckled at the thought. What kind of coincidence was that? Still, if that was true, it was anything but good. The better they knew this body she had, the more likely they could tell that something was off, and she had no way of knowing how the previous person acted. She slapped her head mentally. Why hadn’t she thought of this person’s family? Of course, she had them. Friends too.

The steps came nearer and nearer, and with each step, Lia grew frantic, causing the pictures in her head to jump from one scene to another without forming a solid recollection. She prayed to all the gods, saints, and angels who might listen to her, and maybe, send some help.

‘Should I play dead?’ No, that might complicate the matters more. ‘Should I run?’ This person would still look for her no matter where she would go.

The forest was eerily quiet, a single sound, just a single shift in steps sounded louder than it should have been. Lia scanned the clearing, looking out for other possible threats that might come in all directions. She did not have any weapon to defend herself. Or any idea of how to defend.

She had no idea, full stop.

Her body tensed when she felt the footsteps cease behind her. She did not dare look back, though, and could only gulp and wait.

“Thank goodness, you’re here,” Lia felt arms wrapped around her shoulders. “I didn’t know what to do if something happened to you.”

Someone who knew the old Lia, someone who might discover that she was a fraud. Lia tried to think back faster even if the flashes of memories caused her to feel dizzy. She massaged her forehead and groaned in pain.

The grip on her shoulders tightened. “Lia?” the woman called out softly. “Do you still feel hurt anywhere? This is why I told you not to tire yourself out.” Her tone was full of affection, like a mother scolding a child. But she also seemed to be wary of Lia’s reaction as though she had no right to do so.

Bracing herself for anything that might happen, Lia looked back to offer a small smile, fingers crossed that the other person would not notice anything. She turned around and came face-to-face with the other person. All the grisly images she had imagined disappeared in front of this woman with the most beautiful face she had ever seen.

Just as she was about to fully smile, her memories seemed to pause on a picture with the woman’s face. This was the face the original owner knew so well. Lia tried to put a name to the face and came up with two words. A gasp escaped her lips.

‘The Witch.’