The hollow of the tree trunk was damp and suffocating, its walls pressing in on Anne as though the forest itself wanted to swallow her whole. She clutched the fake lamp in her hands, whispering into the silence. "Zahir… even though I don't know you, I need you. My friends are in danger. They need help—quick. Hello? Can someone hear me?" Her voice cracked, echoing faintly in the wood, but no answer came.
Minutes stretched into eternity. Anne's shoulders slumped, her hope draining away. When has anything ever worked out for me? she thought bitterly. She had good friends now, but she couldn't save them. Before Zahir had appeared, she had been nothing but a helpless girl, and even with him, she still felt powerless. "I'm nothing without a genie," she whispered to herself, her throat tight. "And now I've lost him too."
Her mind spiraled with regret. She wished she had said goodbye, wished she had spoken all the words left unsaid. Just once, she wanted him—wanted Zahir—to be there. But hope was gone, and all that remained was the hollow ache of helplessness.
Then the screams tore through the forest. Brittany was on the ground, her body broken, her life flashing before her eyes. She turned her head toward Anne, her voice raw and desperate. "I don't wanna die! Please, someone help!"
Anne's heart clenched. She could mourn later. She could be helpless later. But not now. Not when Brittany was begging for her.
As the beast's massive fist rose, ready to crush Brittany, Anne burst from the tree trunk. The fog parted around her, and Bungo's monstrous eyes locked onto her. Through them, the Chancellor saw her, and he knew instantly—she was special.
Anne's voice rang out, steady despite the fear clawing at her chest. "You want me, right? Take me. Leave them."
The Chancellor's laugh was low, mocking. "Well, it isn't easy."
From the fog, Mrs. Hodgins' voice slithered like poison. "Bring the girl alive. I need her."
The Chancellor smirked, his teeth gleaming in the dim light. The forest seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the strike.
To be continued…