The forest wasn't asleep. April understood it immediately. Not because of a noise. Because of the silence. Too precise. Every rustle arrived at the right time. Every shadow seemed late. April stopped at the edge. There was no boundary. And yet she felt it. Behind her, the city. Ahead, something she was waiting for. She thought of Lina. Of Tomas. Of all the times she'd said "not today." That time she couldn't. She took a step. The ground gave way slightly. Soft. Alive. The contact passed through her body. It wasn't fear. It was an answer. The forest had heard her. April breathed in.

"I have to go."

She entered. The world went dark. The insects fell silent. The wind slowed. Even her breathing changed. As if the forest was teaching her how to exist there. A rustling. April turned. Nothing. But the feeling remained. She wasn't alone. For a moment, the fear melted away. Replaced by something older. As if that place recognized her. At Lina's house, the fire crackled softly.

"Listen to this!" Lina laughed.

Tomas snorted. "If I were the hero, the story would end immediately."

They leafed through the pages again. Then they stopped.

"The Dragon of Oztar..." Lina murmured. Her tone changed. "Whoever hears the call... may return. Whoever enters without being called... stays."

Silence. Lina closed the book. Too hard. The words remained.

"A nice bedtime story," she said, forcing a smile.

Tomas didn't laugh. He was looking outside.

"Lina..." Tomas said.

She turned. And saw her. April. Standing still. At the edge of the woods. One more step. And she would disappear. Lina's heart stopped.

"April," one of them said.

But April didn't turn around. She took another step. And the forest swallowed her.