Irene's eyes fluttered open, heavy with exhaustion. Pain radiated through her body as she slowly pushed herself up, her hands sinking into the damp, mud-soaked ground. Strands of hair clung to her face, matted with dirt and rain. Blinking rapidly, she glanced around, her chest tightening. "What the hell..." she muttered, her voice hoarse and unsteady.

The forest felt... wrong. The once-familiar trees now loomed like strangers, their twisted forms casting eerie shadows that seemed to stretch toward her. The air was heavy, suffocating, and carried a strange, metallic

Irene's eyes darted around as fragments of her memory clawed their way back—her heated argument with Phoebe, the storm's chaotic fury, and... that shadow figure. A chill crept up her spine, and fear gripped her chest like a vice. The forest seemed darker now, uninviting. She turned in place, searching desperately for any sign of a way out.

A sudden rustling in the nearby trees made her whip her head around, her breath hitching. "Jericho?" she called, her voice trembling as she scanned the shadows for any sign of her brother.

From the shadows, a tiny figure emerged—a sleek black cat, its bright green eyes glinting in the dim light. Irene crouched down slowly, her heart still racing from the tension of the forest. "Are you lost too?" she murmured, her voice soft but unsteady.

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Tentatively, she reached out, her fingers brushing through the cat's velvety fur. That's when she noticed it—a delicate pendant resting against the cat's chest. It caught the faint light, revealing a deep purple gem encased in intricate silver filigree. Irene's breath hitched as she traced the pendant with her eyes, captivated by its eerie elegance. Irene staggered to her feet, fumbling for her phone. She held it high, spinning slowly in place, desperately searching for even the faintest bar of service. Nothing. A sharp wave of panic began to claw at her chest. "Jericho!" she shouted, her voice trembling as it echoed into the emptiness. "Phoebe!" But the forest swallowed her cries, leaving only the sound of her ragged breathing.

A crushing sense of hopelessness settled over her, and she froze, lost in a swirl of fear and frustration. Suddenly, she felt a soft brush against her leg. Startled, she glanced down to see the black cat from earlier rubbing against her.

"Meow," it said, staring up at her with unblinking, green eyes.

"What?" Irene snapped, her frayed nerves spilling into her tone.

The cat's expression seemed almost human, an air of impatience flickering across its face as it turned away, its tail flicking dismissively. Without hesitation, it began to trot forward, disappearing into the dense undergrowth.

Irene hesitated, a strange mix of annoyance and curiosity blooming within her. Against her better judgment, she muttered under her breath and followed, the rustling leaves underfoot the only sound in the stillness.