Chapter 11: The Forgotten Sister

Elias stepped closer to Lila, his heart pounding. 

The roots encasing her body pulsed faintly, as if alive. 

Her eyes were closed, her face peaceful. 

But something was wrong. 

The Awakening

 Elias reached out, his hand trembling. "Lila?" Her eyes fluttered open, but they were blank, empty. She looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Who are you?" Elias felt a pang of sadness. "It's me, Elias. Your brother." Lila shook her head. "I don't have a brother." 

The Realization

 Elias stepped back, his mind racing. "Lila, it's me. Don't you remember?" Lila's expression didn't change. "I don't remember anything. Not my name. Not where I came from. Nothing." Elias felt tears sting his eyes. "But… how?" Lila looked past him, her gaze distant. "The forest took it. The forest takes everything." 

The Plot Twist

 Elias reached into his pocket and pulled out the carved bird. Lila's eyes flickered. She reached for it, then pulled her hand back. "I've seen that before," she whispered. "You gave it to me," Elias said. "Don't you remember?" Lila shook her head again, but her eyes stayed on the bird. 

The Suspense

 Elias felt a surge of hope. If the bird triggered something in her, maybe there was a way to bring her memories back. But before he could say more, the ground beneath them trembled. The trees around the clearing began to close in, their branches reaching like claws. Lila grabbed his arm. "You need to leave. Now." 

The Ending

 Elias hesitated. He couldn't leave her again. Not after all this time. But Lila pushed him toward the edge of the clearing. "Go! Before it's too late!" The last thing Elias saw was her face, filled with fear, as the trees swallowed her once more.