Chapter 3: Strange..

"What the fuck?" she breathed, just seconds before her vision blurred and the ground rushed up to meet her. Her limbs went limp. The last thing she saw was a flickering sky shifting hues—and then, nothing.

A sharp beam of sunlight broke through the canopy, warming her skin. Lilith stirred groggily, wincing against the brightness. Her body ached, and the soft hum of rustling leaves filled the air. She blinked.

Tall trees loomed above her, their branches dancing lazily in the wind. She sat up, brushing bits of grass from her clothes and shielding her face with one hand.

"Where the fuck am I?" she croaked, her voice raspy.

A voice responded before she could collect herself.

"Where did you come from?" asked a girl, her blonde hair glowing almost ethereally under the sun. Her eyes held curiosity, not malice, and she stood just a few feet away.

Lilith's heart jumped. She turned sharply—behind her, to the left, to the right. Just trees. No path, no signs, no clue where she was.

"I... I was at work. Just a second ago," Lilith said, baffled. "Where am I, and who the hell are you?"

The blonde girl tilted her head, lips pursed thoughtfully. Then, with a little shrug, she said, "I was just strolling around, and I saw you lying there. I couldn't just leave you. I'm Keira."

Her voice was soft, her demeanor disarming. The edges of her mouth curled into a smile—cute and almost cartoonish in how sincere it seemed. Lilith found herself mirroring it.

"Uh… thanks?"

"You're welcome!" Keira chirped like the exchange had been scripted.

An awkward silence followed, thick and humming. Lilith rose to her feet, brushing dirt off her jeans, eyes scanning the woods again. No matter the direction, all she saw were trees.

"You sure know your way around..." she murmured.

Keira nodded, scratching her cheek absentmindedly. "Um… yeah, I've lived here all my life."

"Do you mind if I stick with you?" Lilith asked, her voice half-pleading. "At least until I figure out how the hell to get back…"

Keira beamed. "Sure, I don't mind at all!" Her joy felt untouched by suspicion. She extended a hand, motioning forward. "Come with me," she sang.

Lilith hesitated for just a second. Then she followed.

Keira began to skip—not walk, not jog—actual skipping. Lilith jogged to keep up, laughing under her breath.

"Whoa, you're fast!"

"I'm not fast," Keira replied with a wicked grin. "You're just slow."

Lilith smirked. "Oh really?" She broke into a sprint, jogging past her.

Keira gasped theatrically, her hands to her chest. "How dare you jog past me like that!"

Then she bolted. Like a fox chasing the wind.

The forest echoed with their laughter and footsteps as they raced along winding trails. Birds scattered above, their calls harmonizing with the chaos below. Lilith couldn't remember the last time she ran without reason.

After a while, the trees parted like a curtain to reveal a modest, vine-wrapped house tucked into a clearing. It looked like something out of a fairytale.

Lilith's heart slowed. Reality crept back in.

She was deep in a forest. A strange place. An unfamiliar girl. No phone. No signal. No way back.

And yet, something inside her whispered: this might just be the beginning.

As Keira skipped ahead, Lilith trailed behind, still absorbing the surreal nature of it all. The house was quaint—moss-draped shingles, a slanted roof, and a wooden door that looked hand-carved. Vines crept lovingly up its sides like nature couldn't help but embrace it.

Keira pushed the door open with a casual "Mom, I brought someone!"

Inside was warm, the kind of rustic that smelled like herbs and history. The kitchen opened up into the sitting room, where pots hung from wooden beams and sunlight poured through curtained windows in honey-colored stripes.

A woman turned from the stove. Her eyes were the same soft blue as Keira's, but sharper—like they'd seen more storms. She wiped her hands on her apron and walked over, her expression unreadable.

"You must be…?"

"Lilith," she said cautiously.

Angela gave a slow nod and a half-smile. "Well, Lilith—hope you're hungry. There's soup on the stove and bread fresh from the oven."

Keira grinned and gestured toward the cozy table. "She's amazing, isn't she?"

Lilith nodded, feeling warmth spread across her chest—not from the soup, but something quieter, more delicate. As Angela ladled stew into clay bowls, their eyes met.

Just for a moment.

Angela held her gaze, something flickering in her expression—recognition, curiosity, maybe worry.

Lilith blinked.

But before anything could be said, the front door burst open.

"Ugh, smells like garlic heaven!" chirped a voice, followed by the thud of boots and a whirlwind of energy. A teenage girl with jet-black curls and star-patterned leggings stepped in. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and a hint of jealousy.

"Hi, I'm Stella," she said, sizing Lilith up with playful suspicion. "Friend or intruder?"

Keira sighed. "She's a friend. Chill."

Stella flopped dramatically into a chair, grabbing a piece of bread like it owed her rent. "We'll see."

Lilith chuckled, but the moment with Angela lingered like the scent of thyme in the air.

Something about that glance said: this isn't the last time you'll feel strange here.