Kena sat on the soft grass, her eyes locked on the photo in her hand. The man in the picture stared back at her.
He had dark hair that fell over his forehead, sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through her, and a mouth set in a straight line—no smile at all.
She didn't know his name. She didn't know where he lived or how to find him. All she had were the strange words of an old woman echoing in her head: get his kiss, or die.
Her stomach twisted into a tight knot, a sick feeling spreading inside her. She wanted to be brave, though.
She pushed the fear deep down where it couldn't reach her. She wasn't going to let tears fall.
Not here, not now, not when she had no idea what was happening. She took a deep breath and stood up.
Her legs felt shaky, but she made them steady. She looked around at the forest stretching out in every direction.
It wasn't like any place she'd ever seen before. The trees towered high above her, their bark rough and dark.
The leaves were a bright, glowing red, shifting and rustling even though the air was still. She tilted her head up to the sky.
It wasn't blue like it should be—it was a deep purple, with clouds racing across it too fast to seem normal.
Birds called out from the branches, their chirps sharp and odd. They didn't sound happy or peaceful.
They sounded like they were mocking her, laughing at her confusion. A cold shiver ran down her spine. This wasn't her home. It didn't even feel like the same world.
"Okay," she said out loud, her voice small but firm. "I need to move. Standing here won't fix anything."
She shoved the photo into the pocket of her jacket, the paper crinkling as she pushed it down.
She glanced around one more time, picking a direction that seemed as good as any. Her boots sank a little into the soft ground as she started walking.
Tiny flowers dotted the forest floor, popping up between patches of grass. Some of them glowed with a faint light, like little stars scattered at her feet.
She didn't mean to, but her boot came down on one. It let out a high-pitched squeak, sharp and sudden.
Kena jumped back, her heart pounding hard in her chest. She stared at the crushed flower, her breath coming fast.
"What kind of place is this?" she whispered to herself.
She shook her head and kept going, her eyes flicking from side to side. The forest felt alive in a way that made her skin prickle.
It was like the trees were watching her, their branches swaying just enough to notice.
Every little sound—a twig snapping, a leaf rustling—made her jump. She clenched her fists and told herself to stay calm, but it wasn't easy.
She walked for what felt like forever, her legs starting to ache. Then she heard it: the sound of water.
It was soft at first, a low murmur, but it grew louder as she moved. It sounded like a river, rushing and alive.
Her heart lifted a little. Maybe water meant something—maybe it would lead her out of this weird place.
She walked faster, pushing through the trees until they opened up in front of her. There it was: a wide river cutting through the forest.
The water was so clear she could see straight to the bottom. Fish swam beneath the surface, their bodies glinting in the strange light.
But they weren't normal fish. They had wings—small, fluttering wings—that flapped as they moved through the water. Kena's mouth dropped open, and she stood there, staring.
"This is insane," she said, her voice shaking a little.
She stepped closer to the river's edge, her boots crunching on the pebbles along the bank.
She knelt down and dipped her hands into the water. It was ice-cold, stinging her skin, but it woke her up.
She splashed some on her face, letting it drip down her chin. For a moment, she felt clearer, sharper.
But then her foot slipped. The grass was wet, slick under her boot, and she couldn't catch herself.
She tipped forward with a loud yell, arms flailing, and the river swallowed her whole.
The cold hit her like a punch. The water dragged her down, spinning her in circles.
She kicked her legs and swung her arms, desperate to find the surface, but it was all dark and swirling.
Her chest burned, her lungs screaming for air. She couldn't hold it in anymore—she opened her mouth to shout, and water flooded inside.
Her vision blurred, the edges going black. She thought this might be it, that she'd drown in this strange river in this strange place.
Then something grabbed her. Strong hands wrapped around her arms and pulled hard.
She broke through the surface, gasping and choking as she was hauled out. She landed on the ground with a thud, her body shaking as she coughed up water.
Her throat stung, her chest ached, but she was breathing. She was alive. She pushed wet hair out of her eyes and looked up, blinking to clear her sight.
A figure loomed over her. At first, it was just a shadow, tall and broad. Then her eyes focused.
It was a man, standing there like a statue. He wore an iron mask that hid his whole face, leaving only his eyes visible—dark, steady eyes that watched her without blinking.
A long black cloak hung from his shoulders, moving slightly as he breathed. A sword hung at his side, the hilt worn but solid. He didn't say a word, just stared down at her.
"Who are you?" Kena asked, her voice rough and scratchy from the water.
She sat up, wiping her face with a shaky hand. The man stayed quiet for a moment.
He turned his head to look at the river, like he was making sure it wouldn't come for her again. Then he looked back at her.
"You're not from here," he said. His voice was low and even, like he wasn't surprised at all.
"No kidding," Kena shot back. She coughed again, spitting out more water. "I almost drowned. Thanks for pulling me out, I guess."
He gave a single nod, short and sharp. "Be careful. This place is dangerous."
Then he turned and started walking away, his cloak flapping behind him like a dark wing.
"Wait!" Kena yelled.
She scrambled to her feet, her wet clothes heavy and clinging to her skin. Her boots squished with every step as she stumbled after him.
"Where am I? What's happening here?"
The man stopped, his back still to her. "You're in Velmoria," he said simply. "That's all you need to know for now."
"Velmoria?" Kena repeated, the word strange on her tongue.
She ran to catch up with him, her breath puffing out in little clouds.
"Hold on! I need help. Some crazy old woman sent me here—she said I have to find a guy and get him to kiss me, or I'll die. Look at this!"
She fumbled in her pocket and pulled out the photo. It was wet and crumpled, but the man's face was still clear. She held it out with a trembling hand.
The man turned slowly, his movements smooth and deliberate. He took the photo from her, his gloved fingers brushing hers.
He studied it for a long moment, his eyes narrowing behind the mask. He didn't say anything, just handed it back to her.
"That's a hard task," he said at last.
"Yeah, no kidding," Kena said, her voice sharp with frustration. She stuffed the photo back into her pocket. "Do you know him? Can you help me find him?"
He didn't answer right away. Kena held her breath, sure he'd walk off and leave her stranded.
But then he nodded, just once. "I'll help you," he said. "My name is Hope."
"Hope?" Kena echoed, frowning.
It was an odd name for a man in a mask, with a sword and a voice like stone. But she didn't have time to care.
"Okay, Hope. I'm Kena. Where do we start?"
Hope lifted a hand and pointed down the river. "We follow the water. It leads to a town. Someone there might know him."
Kena brushed wet hair off her face and nodded. She didn't trust this Hope guy—not yet.
He was too quiet, too strange, with that mask hiding everything. But he'd saved her from drowning, and she was alone in this wild, impossible place.
She didn't have anyone else. "Fine," she said, her voice firm despite the shiver in her bones. "Let's go."
They started walking along the riverbank, side by side but not too close. The purple sky grew darker, the clouds swirling above them.
The glowing flowers along the path lit their way, casting faint light on the ground. Kena stole glances at Hope as they moved.
His mask gleamed faintly in the dimness, and his steps were sure, like he knew this place well.
She wondered who he was under there, why he'd agreed to help her. He was a mystery, but he'd pulled her from the water.
For now, that was enough to keep her going.