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“And black wood?” I finish for her.

“Yes!”

“Are we near a forest?” The words are thick in my throat.

“Yes, at the edge of the Blakk Forest. How do you know that?”

Goose bumps break out across my chilled skin as she continues confirming what I already knew deep down.

“I—” How do I explain that my worst nightmare has come true? That I’m in the castle from my dreams.

“I have to go. Someone is coming!” Her panicked voice interrupts my thoughts.

“Birdy, please don’t go! You have to help me get out of here,” I plead.

“I can’t do that, but I brought you this.” She shoves some type of pastry through the metal bars. I barely catch it before it falls, and the empty cup meant to be a weapon clatters to the ground.

“Only eat what I bring you,” she whispers, and I hear more voices in the distance. “I have to go for now, but I’ll come back.”

“Wait, please don’t go! Please don’t leave me here!” I choke back a sob.

“I promise you’re safe… for now.”

“For now?” My heart skips a beat. “Why am I here?”

“I’m not sure, but I promise you, I will find out.”

“Wait! My friend—Beatrix? Is she here too?”

“I don’t know. I think you’re the only one. I have to go for now. Tell no one I was here.”

And just like that, she’s gone.

Something in my gut tells me I can trust her, or she wouldn’t have wanted to keep her visit a secret.

Why was she in such a hurry to leave? Is she trapped here too?

My body slides down onto the cool stone next to the door as hopelessness floods my system.

I need a better plan. One that gets me out of here and far away from this place.

Some part of my brain is processing the shock, and the other part is playing this out like a mini movie in my head. At some point, someone will have to come back in and check on me, and when they do, I need to earn their trust.

“I hope it’s Birdy,” I mutter to myself. Maybe saying it out loud will make it come true.

I just need to stay awake for now.

My mind chooses to focus on the practical and ignore the obvious questions, like how am I locked up in a place that is connected to my dreams?

My rumbling stomach reminds me I barely ate anything the day before, and I chance a bite. The pastry is light and fluffy, tasting of raspberries and cream. Another bite and another, until it’s gone. I could really use a drink. Too bad I threw out the mystery liquid.

Probably for the best.

At least being dehydrated means I won’t have to relieve myself on the floor.

Pulling my knees to my chest, I rack my brain.

Trying to remember the entire evening is exhausting. All the faces seem to blur together. The only familiar one belongs to Beatrix. And I have no clue where she is.