With nothing to do inside the house, Thalia wandered into the forest. As she walked, memories of the times she had gotten lost—hiding from people she was escaping—came flooding back. She didn't realize that her steps were taking her deeper into what used to be enemy territory.
Lost in thought, she didn't notice how far she had gone. The familiar paths blurred into unfamiliar trails. She wasn't carrying the map her cousin had given her either. Instead, she was simply admiring the flourishing gorse bushes, which lined the narrow trail and made the path hard to see.
"Miss!"
Startled by the sudden voice, Thalia froze in place. Before she could react, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side.
She tumbled onto the grass along with the stranger who had yanked her away. Quickly getting to her feet, Thalia turned to see who it was. A young man stood before her—around her age. She furrowed her brow in confusion.
"That was close," he said calmly.
"What do you mean?" Thalia asked, still catching her breath.
Instead of answering directly, the young man gave her a once-over. "Are you a visitor here?"
She frowned. "Why? What if I am?"
He sighed and shook his head. "You need to be careful. There are traps set up around here—mostly for catching wild animals."
Following his gaze, Thalia looked ahead. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw a deep hole camouflaged with foliage. One more step and she would've fallen into it.
"Thank you," she said sincerely, bowing slightly.
The young man nodded and gave her a small smile before turning to leave.
I nearly got myself in serious trouble, she thought, following him.
He glanced back at her. "Where are you from?"
"From the city. I'm here on vacation—it's our semestral break," she replied, walking beside him as they made their way back to the main road.
"I have a friend in the city too, but the city's pretty big," he remarked.
She nodded. Up ahead, the road began to look familiar.
"Gerald," he introduced himself, offering a hand.
"Thalia," she said, shaking it briefly.
"Nice to meet you, Thalia," he said with a warm smile.
"You too. I really appreciate what you did for me back there."
"I'll be around, but just a word of advice—don't go wandering off without knowing where you're stepping. That forest can be dangerous," Gerald reminded her.
Thalia gave a small nod and headed back toward the house. She needed to retrieve the map her cousin had given her.
When she arrived, she saw Vince sitting on the veranda, smoking. He seemed lost in thought.
He looked up at her. "Why do you look like that?"
Thalia glanced down at her messy clothes and noticed twigs and leaves tangled in her hair. No doubt from when she fell.
"Nothing, brother," she said quickly, brushing herself off and trying to avoid further questions.
Vince raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Alright," he said simply.
She offered a quick goodbye before hurrying upstairs to her room. She immediately searched for the map, pulled it out, and sat down to study it. Unfolding the sheet, she scanned the markings carefully.
Her brow furrowed.
There it is, she thought. That's where I was earlier. But why is there a checkmark there? I didn't see any hut or shelter…
Traps. The thought suddenly hit her.
If that spot is marked as safe, then traps must surround it. That's why it's critical to know exactly where it is.
She picked up a pencil and marked the area she had just come from. She still hadn't identified all the other safe zones on the map. That probably meant they were well-hidden—or protected.
These places aren't meant to be found easily, she murmured to herself.
With a deep sigh, she folded the map again and walked back outside. Vince was gone from the veranda. She sat on the steps, staring at the expanse of forest before her.
She ran her fingers over the worn paper, trying to decode its secrets. She tilted the map, turning it in different angles, scratching her head in confusion.
Am I even doing this right?
Her gaze drifted back to the forest. She compared the visible landmarks with the map—then looked at the spot she nearly fell into.
She traced the markings leading north.
North? That can't be right… she muttered, rotating the map again.
She studied the house's orientation and the nearby warehouse. With new determination, she marked the safe zones and labeled the danger areas.
Her eyes widened.
The danger zones were extremely close to the warehouse.
If that's the case…
She stared at her most recent markings. Her intuition was screaming at her now.
If Vince gave me this map, he's trying to keep me away from something—or from someone. He's protecting me, and I need to understand why.
She hid the map again, now more curious than ever.
I don't know if my theory is right… but this map is supposed to help in the convergence of our three paths.
Brother, I don't know what you're planning. But you always think ten steps ahead. That worries me.
Her thoughts lingered on Felix.
She was beginning to feel the weight of something larger at play.