Zara, her heart racing, stands near the abandoned carriage, searching the surroundings for any sign of La or their captors.
The area is eerily quiet, the only sounds being that of her own ragged breathing and the far-off noises of city life.
Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, a faint rustling noise catches her attention. She turns her head towards the source of the noise, her instincts on high alert.
Zara's gaze locks onto a shadowy figure a few meters away, creeping amongst the bushes. Her heart hammers in her chest as she takes a step forward, her muscles tensed and ready to pounce.
As she moves closer, the figure appears more clearly: a young girl, no older than ten, her eyes wide with fear. She holds a doll in her trembling hands, her tiny body quivering as she sees Zara approaching.
Zara pauses, her initial sense of danger giving way to surprise and concern. She looks at the young girl with a mix of bewilderment and caution. "Hey...are you okay?" she asks gently, trying to keep her voice soft and calm.
The little girl nods, her eyes still wide and terrified. Zara takes another step forward, closing the distance between them. "What's your name?" she asks, crouching down to the girl's level.
The girl hesitates for a moment, her grip on the doll tightening. Finally, she speaks in a small, shaky voice. "M...my name is Lily."
Zara gives Lily a warm smile, relieved that the girl has spoken. "It's nice to meet you, Lily," she says. "Can you tell me what have you been doing here all alone?"
Lily's eyes dart around nervously, her lips trembling slightly. "I... I got lost," she whispers, her voice barely audible.
Zara's heart sinks as she hears the fear in Lily's voice. "Lost? How did you get lost, sweetheart?" she asks, her voice filled with concern.
Lily fidgets with her doll, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I was playing hide and seek with my friends," she replies, her voice quavering. "And I ran too far into the woods."
Zara's eyes soften even more as she listens to Lily's story. "Oh, honey," she says gently. "You must have been scared trying to find your way back."
Lily nods, her eyes welling up with tears. "I... I tried to follow the path I took," she whispers. "But... I got even more lost."
Zara's heart goes out to the frightened young girl in front of her. "It's okay, sweetie," she says kindly, reaching out to gently touch Lily's shoulder. "We're going to get you home, alright?"
Lily looks up at Zara, her eyes wide and tear-filled. "R... really?" she asks hopefully.
Zara nods, a reassuring smile on her face. "Yes, I promise," she assures her. "But first, we need to figure out where you live. Do you know your street name or your house number?"
Lily looks thoughtful for a moment, her brow furrowed in concentration. Suddenly, her expression brightens. "My house is on Willow Street," she says, her voice a little more confident now.
Zara nods, committing the name of the street to memory. "Okay, excellent," she says.
As Zara ponders what to do next, her mind quickly recalls something she had seen earlier – a city they had passed by on their journey.
She remembers the towering buildings, the bustling streets, and the people going about their day. A thought flashes through her mind - perhaps they could go to the city, and find someone who could help them with finding Lily's house.
Scene switches to La, captured and being carried off by the unknown woman. She slowly regains consciousness, her head throbbing and her body feeling weak.
As her eyes flutter open, she finds herself being carried over the shoulder of a strong, intimidating woman. La groans softly, trying to get her bearings. "Where... who-" she mutters, her voice hoarse and shaky.
The woman carrying La grunts, her grip on her tightening. "Quiet, darling," she mutters, her voice low and rough. "No need for you to worry about anything."
La's head spins, her thoughts confused and disoriented. She tries to lift her head up, but she's too weak to move much. "Please... let me go," she croaks, struggling weakly.
The woman scoffs, her hold on La never faltering. "Oh, stop struggling, love," she says, her tone more mocking than comforting. "You're not going anywhere."
La feels a sense of helplessness wash over her.
She tries to wriggle free one more time, but it does nothing but exhaust her already weak body. She slumps back, feeling defeated.
Few minutes later, La lands awkwardly on the floor, her body protesting the rough treatment. She sits up slowly, her head throbbing and her body aching.
She looks around, taking in the surroundings of wherever she is. It seems like a dingy, dimly lit room, with only a few small windows letting in a minimum amount of light.1
The unknown woman, along with her accomplices, are talking amongst themselves. Their voices are hushed, making it difficult for La to make out what they're saying.