Forbidden Forest

Eve groggily blinked her eyes open, the soft glow of the early morning light seeping through the thin curtains of her dorm room. She could still feel the remnants of last night's adrenaline coursing through her veins.

The ride with Victor, Maximilian, and Raphael had been exhilarating but draining, and the thrill of sneaking back into the dormitory had left her utterly exhausted. She had no classes today and hoped for a few more hours of sleep, but that plan was abruptly interrupted by the sharp ring of her phone.

She reached out with a sluggish hand, fumbling on the nightstand until her fingers finally grasped the device. Squinting at the screen, she saw Victor's name flashing.

Her heart skipped a beat, both from the unexpected call and the jolt of excitement she felt whenever she saw his name.

"Hello?" she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.