Chapter 2: The Escape Plan

POV: Aria Monroe

She woke to warmth.

The forest floor beneath her was soft, almost velvet-like. The air smelled of pine and something sweeter—like wildflowers blooming in moonlight. Luna lay curled beside her, still asleep, her tiny fingers wrapped around Aria’s wrist.

The tree loomed above them, its bark still glowing faintly. The runes shimmered, shifting in rhythm with Aria’s breath. She sat up slowly, her body aching but her mind clear.

This wasn’t a dream.

She looked around. The clearing was quiet, but not empty. The trees leaned inward, protective. The mist had lifted, revealing a path lined with stones etched in the same glowing script. Aria didn’t recognize the language, but it felt familiar—like something she’d known in another life.

Luna stirred. “Mommy?”

“I’m here,” Aria whispered, brushing a leaf from her daughter’s hair.

“Is this the castle?”

Aria smiled faintly. “Something like that.”

They followed the path, each step syncing with the hum in the air. The forest didn’t feel threatening. It felt alive. Watching. Guiding.

As they walked, Aria noticed small creatures darting between the trees—foxes with silver fur, birds with glowing eyes. None of them seemed afraid. Luna giggled softly, pointing at a rabbit with antlers.

“Look! It’s magic.”

Aria nodded. “I think we’re somewhere special.”

The path led to a stone archway, half-covered in moss. Beyond it, the forest opened into another clearing—this one filled with structures made of wood and crystal. They shimmered in the moonlight, humming softly.

A woman stood at the center, her hair braided with vines, her eyes glowing like the tree’s runes.

“You made it,” she said.

Aria froze. “Who are you?”

“I’m a flamekeeper,” the woman replied. “My name is Elira. The Grove called you.”

Aria stepped forward, shielding Luna. “Why?”

Elira smiled gently. “Because you carry something rare. Something the Grove remembers.”

Aria’s heart pounded. “I don’t understand.”

“You will,” Elira said. “Come. You’re safe now.”

They entered the sanctuary, the structures humming in welcome. Luna ran ahead, laughing as the stones lit beneath her feet. Aria followed slowly, her mind racing.

Inside, Elira offered food, warmth, and rest. Aria hesitated, then accepted. She hadn’t felt safe in years.

That night, she dreamed again.

The man beneath the tree. His eyes burning. His voice steady.

You are Grove-born. You are bond.

She woke with tears on her cheeks and a name on her lips.

Luna.

-

Aria wandered through the sanctuary with Luna’s hand in hers, marveling at the way the structures seemed to breathe. The walls shimmered with embedded crystals, and the air carried a low hum—like the forest itself was singing. She didn’t understand the language etched into the stones, but her body responded to it instinctively. Her steps slowed. Her breath deepened. Her fear began to loosen its grip.

Luna ran ahead, her laughter echoing through the clearing. She stopped beside a fountain carved from tree roots, its water glowing faintly. “Mommy, look!” she called. “It’s warm!” Aria knelt beside her, dipping her fingers into the stream. It wasn’t just warm—it pulsed. The water carried rhythm, like a heartbeat. Aria looked up at Elira. “Is this magic?” Elira smiled. “It’s memory.”

Inside one of the crystal shelters, Aria found a cot layered with soft moss and woven blankets. She sat down slowly, her body aching from years of tension. Luna curled beside her, already drifting toward sleep. Aria brushed her daughter’s hair back and whispered, “You’re safe now.” The words felt foreign on her tongue, but the Grove responded with a gentle breeze through the open doorway, as if affirming her truth.

Elira returned with a bowl of fruit and a flask of herbal tea. “You’ll need rest,” she said. “The Grove doesn’t just heal—it reveals.” Aria hesitated. “Reveals what?” Elira’s gaze softened. “Who you were before the silence. Who you are 

now. And who you’re becoming.” Aria didn’t reply. She simply took the tea and drank.

That night, as the sanctuary dimmed and the stars blinked overhead, Aria lay awake beside Luna, listening to the Grove’s breath. It wasn’t just a place. It was a presence. A witness. A keeper of stories older than pain. She closed her eyes and whispered into the dark, “I’m ready to remember.” The Grove pulsed once. Then again. Then stilled.