The night was unusually cold.
A soft wind moved through the trees, carrying faint whispers that didn't belong to this world. Aarohi stood at the edge of the forest near her village, her heart beating faster than usual.
People feared this place.
They said the forest was cursed—that anyone who entered it never returned the same… or didn't return at all.
But Aarohi wasn't like everyone else.
Since childhood, she had been haunted by strange dreams. A dark castle under a glowing moon. Shadowy figures watching her. And a voice… always the same voice, calling out to her.
"You belong here…"
Tonight, that voice felt closer than ever.
Almost real.
Aarohi took a deep breath, her fingers tightening into a fist. "It's just my imagination…" she whispered, trying to calm herself.
But her feet moved on their own.
Step by step, she walked into the forest.
The deeper she went, the darker it became. The trees grew taller, their branches twisting like they were alive. Even the moonlight struggled to reach the ground.
Then suddenly—
She stopped.
In front of her stood a stone wall, ancient and covered in vines. And in the middle of it… a door.
Half open.
Her breath caught in her throat. "This… wasn't here before…"
Something about it pulled her in.
Slowly, she reached out and pushed the door open.
A strong gust of wind rushed past her, making her close her eyes.
And when she opened them again—
The forest was gone.
Aarohi stood in a different world.
The ground beneath her was dark, almost black. The sky shimmered in shades of purple, and the air felt heavy… unnatural.
She turned around quickly.
The door behind her slammed shut.
And vanished.
Aarohi was trapped.
And somewhere in the distance…
Something was watching her. 👁️✨