I felt the warm sunlight across my face as I sat near the window, pushing aside the remnants of my breakfast, my stomach protesting the generous portions Kat had insisted I consume. The castle bustled with an unspoken tension that prickled at the edges of my awareness, a shift in the very air since I'd awoken from my latest fainting spell."My lady, perhaps another scone?" Kat hovered at my elbow, her brow creased with concern."No, thank you. I fear if I eat another bite, I may burst."Kat's frown deepened, but she mercifully withdrew. I sighed, the weight of her constant fussing settling on my shoulders like a heavy cloak. It had been nearly a week since my collapse, and the castle staff seemed determined to treat me as if I were made of spun glass, ready to shatter at the slightest provocation.Stranger than the staff's new treatment of me, Mikhail had suddenly begun to avoid me. Each time I approached his study or sought him out in the gardens, his staff politely but firmly rejected me. "His Grace is presently indisposed," they'd say, or "The Duke cannot be disturbed."In the beginning, it felt like bad timing. Now, it felt personal.I pushed back from the table, my skirts swishing as I strode towards the door. Kat's eyes widened in alarm. "My lady, where are you going?""For a walk," I tossed over my shoulder, determined to escape the suffocating confines of my chambers. "I fear if I remain here any longer, I may go mad."The castle corridors stretched before me, a labyrinth of stone and shadow. Belmont's red hair caught my eye as he rounded a corner, and I quickened my pace to catch up."Lord Belmont!"His steps faltered, his shoulders stiffening before he turned to face me."Lady Samara." His usually playful smile was strained, his emerald eyes darting away from mine."Might I have a word?" I asked, my heart sinking at his obvious discomfort."Forgive me, my lady, but I fear I am needed elsewhere." He bowed hastily, already backing away. "Perhaps another time."I watched him retreat, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.What had I done to warrant such avoidance?That evening, as I picked at my dinner in the solitude of my chambers, I could bear the uncertainty no longer."Kat, why is everyone treating me so strangely?" I asked, my voice trembling with feigned distress. "Have I done something to offend them?"Her eyes widened, feigning ignorance."I don't know what you mean, Miss Samara. Everyone's been quite normal.""Normal?" I scoffed, recognizing the dance of deception we were about to engage in. "You call this normal?" My chest tightened, not from anger but from the well of loneliness brimming within. It was time to pull out my best performance—a skill honed from years of deflecting nosy academic peers."I feel so alone here, Kat. I thought I had found friendship within these walls, but now..." I let my voice trail off, a single tear sliding down my cheek.Kat's resolve crumbled, her expression softening with sympathy."Oh, my lady. Please don't cry." She hesitated, glancing towards the door before leaning closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "The truth is, His Grace fears for your well-being and has threatened dire consequences should any harm befall you."I stared at her, my mind reeling.Mikhail had ordered this?The revelation struck me like a physical blow, and a swell of emotion rose in my chest—anger, bewilderment, and a strange fluttering that I couldn't quite name."So they avoid me out of fear?"Kat nodded, her eyes filled with sympathy. "They mean no offense, my lady. They are just acting cautiously."I rose from the dinner table, my movements sharp and purposeful. I began to undress, discarding my gown with little regard for propriety. Kat's eyes widened in surprise, and her hands fluttered uncertainly as she hurried to my side."My lady, shall I prepare a bath for you?" she asked, her voice tentative."No," I snapped, my tone harsher than I intended. "Where is the dress I arrived in?"Kat blinked, confusion evident on her face."In the wardrobe, my lady. But why-"I didn't wait for her to finish, striding towards the wardrobe and flinging open the doors. There, nestled among the fine silks and velvets, hung the simple dress I had worn on that fateful day. I snatched it from the hanger, along with my worn boots, and began to dress with furious efficiency."My lady, where are you going?" Kat asked, her voice rising with alarm.I didn't answer her because I didn't know either. I just knew that I had to get out of the stuffy dress and get outside of the castle.Kat gaped at me, her eyes wide with shock. I could see the conflict playing out across her face, the desire to stop me conflicting with her sense of duty. But I gave her no chance to intervene. I strode past her and out of the room, my footsteps echoing like gunshots in the stillness of the castle.I made my way through the corridors, my heart pounding as I sought the nearest exit. The door to the gardens loomed before me, promising freedom and escape. But as I reached for the handle, I heard hurried footsteps behind me and Kat's panicked voice calling out."My lady, please wait! Let me find someone to accompany you. If you go out alone, his Grace will be very worried."Find someone to accompany me. Who would want to sign up for that after being threatened?I whirled to face her, my eyes flashing with barely contained rage. "If he were so worried, he wouldn't have ordered his entire castle to isolate me like a leper."Kat flinched at my words, but I had no time for guilt or remorse. I turned on my heel and strode out into the gardens, the cool evening air washing over my flushed skin like a balm. I followed the castle wall, trying to figure out where I wanted to head.Behind me, I heard Kat's footsteps falter and then fade away, retreating into the depths of the castle. A pang of regret pierced through my anger, but I pushed it aside.As I rounded the corner, the front gates came into view, tall and imposing against the darkening sky. Beyond them, the road stretched out like a ribbon, disappearing into the shadowy depths of the forest. I faltered for a second, contemplating which direction to take.Deciding I wanted to avoid being out where I could be so easily spotted, I headed into the woods instead.The waning sun filtered through the dense canopy, casting a mosaic of shadows and light on the forest floor. I was grateful for the lingering daylight—the thought of navigating this tangle of trees in the dark twisted my stomach into knots. My boots crunched over fallen leaves as I pressed on.But with every step, the foliage seemed to whisper secrets, growing thicker overhead. The temperature dropped, sending a chill down my spine that had little to do with the cooling air. I spun around, trying to get my bearings, but it was no use. Everything looked identical; it was all a never-ending loop of greenery. I couldn't even make out the outline of the castle.I can't have walked that far.I pushed forward, clinging to the hope that soon I'd break free from this natural labyrinth. But then I heard it—a rustle in the underbrush behind me, like a hasty retreat. A shiver slithered up my spine, and I knew—I wasn't alone.My heart pounded a frantic rhythm against my ribs as a creeping fog began to blanket the ground.Brilliant, Samara. Absolutely brilliant.I scolded myself, my anger dissolving into a cold dread. Had Mikhail's distant behavior really wounded me so deeply that I'd storm out like a petulant child?The air grew colder with each step, the fog thickening around me like a shroud. I rubbed my arms, trying to ward off the chill that had settled into my bones, but it was no use. The forest seemed to leech the warmth from my body, leaving me shivering and alone in the gathering darkness.Snap! A twig broke behind me, the sound echoing through the trees like a gunshot. I whirled around, my heart in my throat, but there was nothing there - just the endless expanse of shadowed trunks and grasping branches."Get it together, Samara," I muttered under my breath, trying to steady my nerves. "There's nothing out there. You're just letting your imagination get the best of you."But even as the words left my lips, I saw it.There, amidst the encroaching mist, a hooded figure emerged from the shadows. My logical mind insisted it was just a trick of the light, a figment of my frazzled nerves. Yet, when I squeezed my eyes shut and reopened them, the figure stood closer, its presence undeniable and terrifyingly real."Okay, this isn't happening," I whispered, though the icy touch of fear was all too palpable.My voice shattered the silence, and I found my legs moving before I could second-guess their wisdom. They carried me away from the specter, away from whatever intentions it harbored beneath its cloak.I ran, my feet pounding against the forest floor as I fled from the horrors that lurked in the shadows. Branches whipped at my face, tearing at my skin and clothes, but I hardly felt them.My lungs burned as I sprinted through the forest, my feet barely touching the ground. I could hear the sound of pursuit behind me, the rustle of leaves, and the snap of twigs that signaled the hooded figure was still on my trail.Suddenly, a gnarled root caught my foot, and I stumbled, nearly falling face-first into the dirt. I caught myself at the last moment, my hands scraping against the rough bark of a nearby tree. Pain lanced through my knees as I hit the ground hard, tearing through the fabric of my dress.I looked up, gasping for breath, and my heart seized in my chest. The hooded figure loomed over me.This was it, then. After everything I'd been through, all the mysteries and dangers of this strange new world, I was going to meet my end at the hands of some faceless specter in the middle of a cursed forest.Just as I was about to resign myself to my fate, a blur of white fur shot past me, slamming into the hooded figure with a snarl. The figure staggered back, its arm flailing as it tried to fend off the furious creature that had latched onto it.Ignoring the pain in my legs, I scrambled to my feet and took off running again, silently thanking whatever guardian angel had sent that animal to my rescue.Ahead, the trees began to thin out, and I could see a glimmer of light shining through the branches. I pushed myself harder, hope flaring in my chest as I neared the edge of the forest. If I could make it to that clearing, maybe I could find help or at least catch my breath long enough to figure out my next move.But as I burst out of the treeline, my heart sank. I found myself in an open meadow. One that looked oddly familiar.Then I felt the ground shake beneath my feet, and I whirled around to see four hooded figures on horseback bearing down on me, their dark cloaks billowing in the wind.I tried to run again, but my legs were spent, and the adrenaline that had fueled my initial escape was now fading fast. I managed a few stumbling steps before the horses surrounded me, cutting off any hope of escape.The lead rider dismounted and strode towards me, his cloak swirling around him like a living shadow. I tensed, ready to fight or flee, but as he drew closer, a flicker of recognition passed through me."Mikhail?"He reached up and pushed back his hood, revealing the silver hair and stormy gray eyes.Relief rushed through me, and I took a step forward, ready to throw myself into his arms.But then I saw his expression, the cold fury etched into every line of his face, and I faltered."What are you doing out here?" he demanded, his voice as hard and unforgiving as stone.I had never heard him use that tone before, not even with Silas or Celeste."Taking a midnight stroll," I quipped, trying to ease the tension and my frayed nerves.His eyes narrowed, and I could practically feel the temperature drop another ten degrees."Samara, do you have any idea---" Mikhail began but cut off as we all turned to a noise coming from the underbrush and headed towards us.Without a second thought, I rushed over to Mikhail's side, my heart pounding as he and the three knights drew their swords. The sound that had filled the air moments before had vanished, leaving only the soft rustling of leaves. We all strained to hear it again, but nothing came.I watched Mikhail's sharp gaze sweep over the tall grass, scanning for any threat. But then, movement caught my eye. A small figure darted out from the grass, and I let out a startled breath. It wasn't an enemy at all—it was an adorable pup with the most stunning white fur and eyes that were as clear as ice."What is that?" one of the knights asked, his voice filled with surprise.Without thinking, I stepped away from Mikhail's side and cautiously approached the little creature. It wagged its tail, tilting its head as if sizing me up. There was something familiar and comforting in its gaze."It's a Silverfur pup," Mikhail answered, his tone holding a hint of reverence.I crouched down, and the pup wasted no time. It sprinted toward me, nestling itself right into my arms. I couldn't help but smile as I scratched its head, feeling an odd sense of relief flood through me."Are you my savior?" I whispered to the pup, almost to myself, as I cradled it closer."Savior from what?" Mikhail's voice cut through the moment, and just like that, the memory flashed in front of me—the hooded figure, the chase, the fear that gripped my heart. A shiver ran down my spine.I swallowed hard and turned to Mikhail, my grip tightening around the pup."I ran into a hooded figure earlier. It chased me and almost caught me, but this little guy lunged at it. It gave me just enough time to get away."Mikhail's expression shifted, his features growing hard and serious. The weight of my words sinking in, I glanced at the knights and saw something close to fear pass over their faces."Let's head back to the castle," Mikhail ordered suddenly, his voice leaving no room for argument.I blinked, stunned. I expected him to launch a search for the figure, to hunt down whatever had pursued me. Instead, he helped me back onto his horse with swift movements, his body tense against mine as he settled in behind me.Why wasn't he searching for the figure? Did he not believe me?Mikhail spurred his horse forward, leading the group away from the meadow and toward the safety of the castle.