The bushes rustled gently within a secluded forest, far from the city's edge. From between the branches, a figure emerged. It was a girl with light brown hair and glasses fitted neatly on her serene face. She wore a lavender sweater lazily tied around her waist, a purple shirt, black pants, and in her arms, she held a matching purple book—perfectly coordinated with her outfit.
???:Finally… a quiet place to read.
Before her rose a green-covered mountain. Around its base, the landscape seemed like the perfect place to rest. Without much thought, she walked toward one of the three bushes nestled at the foot of the hill. She chose the one on the left and carefully sat down, settling herself among the leaves.
But rest didn't last long.
The moment she leaned back, the ground gave way beneath her. A hidden hole yawned open just behind the chosen bush. The earth collapsed, and her body fell without warning, swallowed by darkness.
As she descended, her life flashed swiftly before her eyes.
{Flashback}
Boy 1:Hey, Sabrina, today we're training with the Warzs.
Sabrina:Alright. I'll support you from the bench, like always.
Boy 2:It would be an honor.
The voices bounced off the gymnasium walls. It was a casual exchange between two boys and a girl. But amidst the noise, a young woman—the same one as before, wearing the lavender sweater and black pants—stood up, clutching her book tightly.
The noise was too much.
Without a word, she left the classroom, closing the door behind her.
From inside, the voices still lingered.
Sabrina:What's up with her?
Boy 3 (from inside):Don't mind her. She's always like that—keeps to herself.
She walked down the silent school hallway, her calm steps echoing against the polished floor. The girl in the lavender sweater, her purple book hugged to her chest, advanced with a serene gaze, searching for more than just a place to sit. At a hallway intersection, she encountered a teacher walking in the opposite direction.
Teacher:Paige, where are you going?
Paige:Somewhere quiet to read.
The teacher looked at her for a moment, noticing the book in her hands.
Teacher:Why not try the forest on the mountain? It's peaceful there for reading… and from the looks of things, they're going to send all students home anyway. It's a good place to rest.
Paige:Thank you. I'll go there. Thanks, Professor.
Teacher:My pleasure.
Without another word, Paige nodded politely and continued on her way, exiting the school. The outdoor air hit her face directly. She walked with purpose toward the forest behind the school building.
That place, known as "the mountain forest," earned its name for obvious reasons: it was a mountain, yes, but what made it stand out was the dense woodland encircling its base. There, students and teachers alike often went to rest—seeking something the walls could not offer: silence.
{End of Flashback}
Paige:Aaaaahhhh!!!
Paige's scream echoed through the tunnel walls as she continued falling into the hole. Her arms clutched the purple book tightly, as if it could shield her from what was coming. Her eyes stayed locked upward, watching as the opening above shrank with each second. She didn't dare look down… fear rooted her in place.
(Scene change)Far below, in a deeper area of the underground, a skeleton with a feminine shape walked calmly. Her steps were silent on the rocky terrain. Suddenly, she stopped.
A scream.
From above, an echo ripped through the silence. It came from the dark sky of the cavern. The skeleton slowly turned her skull upward, her hollow eye sockets focusing in the direction of that unknown sound.
The female skeleton remained motionless for a few seconds, staring up toward the top of the cavern. That scream still echoed in the air, descending forcefully from the darkness above. Her hollow eyes did not waver from the direction of the sound… until she saw it.
A figure was falling. A creature.
Without thinking, the skeleton rushed forward, positioning herself directly beneath the falling path. She extended her arms quickly, trying to calculate the exact point where she might catch the being. As an extra measure, she stacked a small pile of bones beneath her—perhaps to cushion the impact in case she failed.
The falling creature was Paige, still screaming as she plummeted downward. Her body dropped fast, and just before she hit the pile, she was stopped midair—the skeleton had caught her.
But upon seeing her up close, the reaction was immediate.
???:A human!
Surprise overwhelmed her. Her bony, trembling hands instantly let go of the girl. Paige fell directly onto the pile of bones.
Paige:Ah!
Paige:Ow!
Her body shuddered from the impact. The bones, far from soft, felt like thorns against her back and legs. Everything hurt. It was like landing on a bed of nails.
The skeleton stepped back, still shaking. But as she saw the human groaning in pain, her expression shifted. Still frightened, but now filled with remorse, she took a small step forward.
???:I... I'm sorry…
The skeleton, still visibly tense, slowly extended her bony hand toward Paige. Her phalanges creaked softly as they opened fully, as if the gesture itself was unfamiliar to her.
Paige, aching from the bones surrounding her, stared at the hand before her. She hesitated for a moment. Every part of her body hurt, but she knew she wouldn't be able to stand on her own. With effort, and labored breathing, she reached out and took the skeleton's hand.
The touch was cold, rigid, strange… but also steady.
With the creature's help, she managed to stand, wobbly, atop the unstable pile. Together, still holding hands, they began to climb down, step by step. With every movement, the bones crunched beneath their feet, but neither of them said a word.
Once they reached solid ground—no longer in immediate danger—Paige's body gave out.
Her breathing quickened, her face went pale, and suddenly… she collapsed.
It had been too much. The fall, the fright, the sight of the being that caught her… it all hit her at once, now that she was no longer falling.
The skeleton panicked when she saw the human collapse in front of her. Her reaction was clumsy, desperate. She immediately knelt down and touched her carefully. Her body wasn't responding. She was unconscious.
Not knowing exactly what to do—and guided by a strange impulse—she began to drag her. She took her by the arms and pulled her along the underground paths as if she were a corpse, sliding her all the way to her home.
She lived alone.
The entrance was narrow, made of stone and old wood. Upon arriving, she opened the door with difficulty, never taking her eyes off the girl. Then, with great effort and awkward movements, she lifted her. Carrying her up to the second floor was the hardest part. Her bones creaked under the weight, but she didn't stop until she reached the bedroom. There, she laid the human on her bed.
And left her to rest.
A whole day passed.
Paige's eyelids began to twitch. With a deep sigh, she slowly opened her eyes. It took a few seconds for her to process what she was seeing. She was in a room she didn't recognize.
She sat up on the bed, confused, and not seeing anyone around, she got up. She opened the door and descended the stairs with slow steps. As she passed through a room that looked like a living space, she stopped.
There sat the skeleton, calmly drinking tea.
???:Umm… hello?
Paige:I must still be dreaming… yeah, I must be dreaming, right?
Her eyes trembled. Her voice was fragile. Her face was afraid—on the verge of breaking. The skeleton slowly placed the teacup on the table and approached. Gently, she took Paige's hands in hers and softly held them together.
???:No, this is very real… just like me.
And it was in that moment that Paige couldn't hold back anymore.
She began to cry. Like a little girl, like everything she had bottled up exploded all at once. She sobbed with the intensity of a five-year-old… even though she was seventeen.
???:There, there… it's okay now.
But that didn't calm Paige.
She cried for a full hour. The skeleton didn't move. She said nothing more. She just stayed with her. Until, at last, the tears began to slow down… and Paige, with eyes still red, lifted her gaze and started to look around.
To try and understand.
Paige was breathing heavily. Her tears had dried, but her heart was still pounding. She looked around, not fully understanding what had happened. She was in a strange room, in an unfamiliar house, with a skeleton who hadn't hurt her… but hadn't given her any answers either.
Paige:Hmm…
Her thoughts were a whirlwind. Every attempt to make sense of things only deepened her confusion. And soon, panic began to take hold of her again. Her breathing quickened. Fear returned like a crashing wave.
Seeing her face tighten, the skeleton stepped closer with caution, trying to soothe her.
???:You know… to ease the tension, why don't we introduce ourselves? I'm "Synn."
Synn:What's your name, human?
Paige looked at her, her eyes still shining from tears. She rubbed her nose with the back of her hand and replied in a trembling voice.
Paige:Sniff… My name is "Paige."
Synn:Paige… what a lovely name.
The skeleton's words were sincere. There was no fear in her voice. Just a strange warmth, an unexpected calm. Her empty eyes, though without pupils, held no threat.
Only understanding.
And little by little, that calm began to spread.