Known and unknown

Akena stumbled through the dense underbrush, her heart pounding as the morning light filtered unevenly through the trees. Each step felt heavier than the last, the remnants of a nightmarish dream clinging to her like the damp mist in the air. She couldn't shake the ache of longing for her mother's forgiveness, that haunting moment replaying in her mind when she had dared to open the forbidden door. Akena's thoughts spiraled, tangled in guilt and regret, while the shadows around her twisted and swayed.

She paused to catch her breath and glanced down, only to realize her shoes were missing. Panic fluttered in her chest. She distinctly remembered wearing a sturdy pair of boots when she had entered the witch's domain. Now, her bare feet were cold against the damp earth, the wet ground sending chills up her spine. "This is strange," she muttered to herself, but there was little time for contemplation. The forest loomed around her, thick and oppressive, and she felt the weight of unseen eyes watching her every move.

Determined to find her way out, Akena pressed forward, each step pulling her deeper into the woods. The air grew heavier, the familiar sounds of birdsong replaced by an unsettling silence. As she moved, the trees seemed to lean closer, their branches twisting like skeletal fingers reaching out for her. She thought of home, her childhood, the laughter of the sisters in the orphanage who were never kind but neither indifferent—memories that now felt tainted by shadows of fear.

After what felt like hours, she spotted a clearing that ignited a flicker of recognition. There, nestled among the trees, was the house she way shooed away from, the place where darkness had followed her. A sense of relief washed over her, but it was quickly eclipsed by an unsettling feeling. The house appeared the same yet different—an aura of timelessness surrounding it, as if it hadn't aged a day as comoared to the house she had seen yesterday and felt rather unwelcomed in. The walls on which the creepers had their grip on now no longer possessed any.

She hesitated at the door, her heart racing with trepidation. The stories she had heard—whispers of the lost children—echoed in her mind. Was this house a part of that twisted fate? Shaking off the doubts, she knocked, the sound echoing eerily in the stillness.

A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a small child with bright eyes and a giggle that sent a chill down Akena's spine.Akena raised an eyebrow at the unknown child. "Who are you?" the child asked, tilting their head curiously, innocence shining through.

"I'm Akena," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. "I was adopted by this family. I—"

Before she could finish, the child's giggles faded, replaced by a look of confusion. "But I don't know you," the child said, stepping back slightly.

Just then, a woman appeared behind the child, her presence commanding yet unsettling. Akena's heart sank. The woman looked familiar, it was the mother but she looked rather... Young. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice devoid of warmth.

Akena's mind was cliuded with confusion why is mother acting like she doesn't know me.. She thought to herself "I'm Akena... Don't you remember me? I live here. I was adopted by your family," Akena stammered, desperation creeping into her tone. "Madam..i apologize for yesterday.. "

The mother's eyes narrowed, her expression shifting as if she were peering into the depths of Akena's soul. "You're mistaken," she replied, a hint of mockery lacing her words. "We don't take in lost children anymore."

A wave of confusion crashed over Akena. "Lost children..? But you adopted me! what are you talking about?! You must remember…" Her words faltered as she searched the woman's face for any sign of recognition, but there was none. The realization crashed down on her—this was not the family she had known. This was something else entirely, a twisted reflection of the forest's past, it's memories. The black forest forest was showing it's memories to it's new family member.

As the child giggled again, Akena's mind raced. Something was terribly wrong. The laughter echoed around her, turning sinister as it bounced off the walls of the house. She stepped back, heart pounding, and suddenly felt trapped by the very shadows that surrounded her. "What's happening?" she whispered, the edges of her vision darkening.

Before she could react, the mother reached out and grasped the child's hand, pulling them inside as she shut the door with a finality that echoed in Akena's ears. The sound reverberated through her chest, a cruel reminder of the reality she had just confronted. She stood alone on the porch, disoriented and afraid, the weight of dread settling over her like a shroud.

Just then, a whisper floated through the trees, a soft, mocking tone that sent shivers down her spine. "Did you think you could escape?" it seemed to say, twisting through the air like smoke. The forest around her darkened, shadows creeping closer, and Akena felt a deep sense of foreboding.

"No… no!" she shouted, panic surging through her. She turned to flee but found herself engulfed in darkness. The ground beneath her feet felt unstable, as if it were shifting. The trees loomed overhead, their branches clawing at her, and she stumbled backward, the memories of the witch's words crashing back into her mind.

"Remember, when you turn down the game, the game can turn on you." A uncanny and vague message and yet terrifying. Akena didn't know it's implication and neither did she wish to.

Akena's breath quickened as she pushed through the trees, desperate to escape the nightmares closing in around her. She ran, branches snagging at her clothes, the forest swallowing her cries. As she dashed through the undergrowth, she felt a cold breath on her neck, the sensation chilling her to the bone. Almost instinctively she reached for the rosary in her pocket hoping for it's presence and there it still was.

Suddenly, she jolted awake, the familiar surroundings of the witch's abode coming into focus. Heart racing, she realized it had all been a dream—or had it? The shadows still danced in the corners of the room, whispering secrets she dared not understand. Akena felt the cold dread settle back over her as she tried to process the disquieting truth: the witch's game was far from over, and the line between reality and nightmare was blurrier than ever.

Akena lay still, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing. She had to escape, but how? The witch's laughter echoed in her ears, mingling with the haunting memories of the family she could barely recall. The night felt heavy with unanswered questions, and she knew she had to confront the shadows that lurked within and around her if she ever hoped to break free from this twisted fate.

With resolve building within her, Akena steeled herself. She would face the witch and whatever horrors awaited her in the depths of the forest, armed with the knowledge that she was more than just a pawn in this dark game. This time, she would reclaim her story, no matter the cost.