Matilda's heart raced with a mixture of fear and anger as she confronted the mysterious man in the dark depths of the forest. Each word he uttered only served to heighten her sense of dread, sending shivers down her spine.
"Lise?" The man's puzzled expression did little to ease Matilda's growing panic. She watched in horror as he furrowed his brow, his gaze shifting uneasily to the ground. His hesitation only fueled her fear, leaving her stomach twisted in knots.
"I'm sorry, I don't recall discarding any girls by that name," he finally responded, his words sending a chill down Matilda's spine. The term "discard" hung ominously in the air, filling her with a sense of foreboding.
"Discard? What do you mean by discard?" Matilda's voice quivered with dread as she struggled to comprehend the man's cryptic response. The mere suggestion of something sinister sent a wave of cold fear coursing through her veins, making her legs feel like jelly beneath her.