I stood in the middle of the dark forest, my heart beating like a drum against my ribs. The air was much colder here than it had been in the city; it was a heavy, ancient cold that seemed to sink deep into my bones. I wrapped my arms around my chest, feeling the familiar denim of my jacket under my fingers. At least I still had my own clothes, but they felt far too thin for this place.
"Mia!" I screamed again, my voice cracking. "Mia, where are you?"
The only answer was the sound of the wind moving through the tall trees. The trees were massive, with thick, silver bark and branches that looked like long, skeletal fingers reaching for the sky. Everything was covered in a thick, grey fog that made it hard to see more than a few feet in front of me.
I started to walk, my sneakers stepping over wet leaves and thick tree roots. Every time a twig snapped under my feet, I jumped. I felt like a hundred eyes were watching me from the shadows. I kept thinking about the accident. One moment, I was in Russia, thinking about a painting of a woman named Lady Mary Ann who looked just like me. The next moment, I was here.
"How did this happen?" I whispered to myself. "Was it the car? Am I dreaming?"
I pinched my arm hard. It hurt. This was not a dream. I had really been transported into this strange, scary forest.
After walking for what felt like an hour, I saw something different through the fog. It was not a tree—it was a narrow, dirt road. I ran toward it, hoping to find a person or a sign of civilization. But there were no tire marks or streetlights; the road was made only for horses and wagons.
Suddenly, I heard a sound: Clop. Clop. Clop.
It was the sound of heavy hooves hitting the dirt. My heart jumped. Someone was coming! I hid behind a large tree and peeked out.
Through the mist, a large, black carriage appeared. It looked like something from a history book—made of dark wood with golden lamps on the sides. It was pulled by four powerful black horses. The driver wore a tall hat and a heavy wool coat. He looked like he belonged in the 1800s.
I wanted to run out and ask for help, but I stopped. I looked down at my blue jeans, my modern jacket, and my messy hair. If these people were from the past, I would look like an alien to them. I was terrified.
The carriage slowed down as it got closer to my tree. I held my breath, pressing my back against the rough bark. I could hear the horses breathing heavily. Then, the carriage stopped completely.
"Is someone there?" a man's voice called out.
The voice was deep and very calm, but it made my skin crawl. I stayed very still, hoping the fog would hide me. I heard the carriage door open with a loud creak.
"I know I saw someone," the man said again.
I heard the sound of boots hitting the soft dirt. He was walking toward my tree.
I closed my eyes tight. I didn't know if this man was a friend, a hero, or someone dangerous. My mind flashed back to the painting in the castle. The lady in the painting had a gorgeous smile, but right now, I felt only fear.
The footsteps stopped right behind me.
"Who are you?" the man asked. His voice was deep and very loud.
I slowly turned around. Standing in front of me was a tall man in a long, dark red coat. He had a sword hanging from his belt and a look of great confusion on his face.
"What are you doing here in the middle of these woods?" he asked, taking a step toward me. "You look very strange. You don't look like you belong in these woods at all."
He reached out his hand, perhaps to grab my arm or to see if I was real. My heart began to race. I didn't know who this man was. All I could feel was a huge wave of fear. I thought about the paintings in the castle and the swords I had seen. This man had a real sword, and he looked dangerous.
"Stay away from me!" I shouted, my voice shaking.
Before he could say another word, I turned and ran. I didn't follow the path; I just sprinted back into the deep woods. I pushed past sharp branches and ran through the thick fog.
Just then, another man approached the man in the red coat, looking worried. "It's dangerous here, your ma—"
The man in the red coat held up his hand, signaling him to stop. "Did you see her? I want you to find that girl! I have never seen her in my lands before. Perhaps she was sent by our enemies to spy on us," the man in the red coat said, lost in deep thought. Her appearance and clothing are so strange, he thought to himself.
I ran so hard that my lungs were burning and my heart was pounding in my ears. I didn't care where I was going; I just wanted to get away from the strange man with the sword. I ran until I couldn't breathe anymore. I finally stopped and hid behind a very large, old tree. I stayed very quiet, trying to hear if he was following me.
I was lost, I was cold, and I was terrified. I was in a world I didn't know, and the only person I had met was someone I had to run away from. I leaned my head against the tree and started to cry quietly. I just wanted to go home to Mia.