The forest was too quiet.
Cassia felt it first. A pressure in her chest, like the trees were holding their breath. Keira noticed it too. She stopped walking, eyes narrowed.
"Something's off," she said. "Like the air's waiting for bad news."
Then came the scream.
It tore through the trees like a blade—high, ragged, and wrong. Not human. Not animal. Something in between.
They ran toward it.
—
The clearing was small and scorched at the edges. At its center, a trap hung between two trees—woven from bone and gold, suspended by threads of silver light. Inside it, a crow thrashed, wings bent at impossible angles. Its feathers shimmered like oil. Its eyes were too human.
Cassia stepped forward.
The crow stilled.
"Help me," it said.
Keira froze. "Nope. No. Talking birds are where I draw the line."
Cassia didn't stop. "It's in pain."
"Or it's bait," Keira snapped. "You ever think of that? Maybe it's supposed to look helpless."
Cassia ignored her. The book in her hands pulsed once. The trap responded—glowing faintly, humming like a heartbeat.
The crow's voice cracked. "Please."
Cassia reached out.
The moment her fingers touched the cage, the world shattered.
—
They landed hard.
Wood beneath them. Dust in the air. The attic.
The book lay open on the floor, smoking.
The crow was there too, collapsed in the corner, feathers falling away like ash.
Keira groaned. "What the hell just happened?"
Cassia sat up. "We were in the forest. The trap—"
The air shifted.
The demon arrived.
It did not walk. It did not speak. It simply appeared—tall, thin, stitched from smoke and shadow. Its eyes burned like ink on fire. Its mouth was sewn shut with threads of light.
It moved toward them.
Keira grabbed a lamp and hurled it. It passed through the demon like mist.
Cassia backed away. "What is that?"
The crow screamed.
And then it changed.
Feathers became flame. Wings stretched into blades. The crow became a girl—tall, sharp-eyed, wrapped in black and silver. Her hair was tangled. Her eyes were storm-colored. She moved like someone who had been broken and rebuilt with fire.
She fought.
It was not enough.
The demon struck her down with a single blow. She hit the wall hard, coughing, blood on her lips. She looked at Cassia and whispered a word.
The attic vanished.
—
They landed in the woods behind Cassia's house.
It was night.
The stars were wrong.
The book was gone.
Cassia sat up, gasping. "The book—"
"Gone," the crow-girl said, coughing. "The portal's closed. You broke the rules."
Keira stood, brushing leaves from her jeans. "We saved you."
The girl laughed, bitter and breathless. "And doomed yourselves. That book was your shortcut. Now the long road is all that's left."
Cassia stood. "Who are you?"
The girl wiped blood from her mouth. "Name's Corva. I was the mapkeeper. Until I got caught."
Keira crossed her arms. "You're welcome, by the way."
Corva smirked. "You think you did me a favor? That trap wasn't for me. It was for you."
Cassia's stomach turned. "What do you mean?"
Corva looked at her. "You're not the only ones being hunted. The Dreamscript doesn't just open doors. It leaves them open."
Keira stepped forward. "Okay, hold on. What even are you? You were a bird. Then a girl. Now you're bleeding on my boots."
Corva raised an eyebrow. "You're welcome for saving your life, by the way."
"I had it under control," Keira muttered.
"You threw a lamp at a demon."
"It was a very heavy lamp."
Cassia stepped between them. "Stop. Please. We need answers."
Corva's expression softened. "You're right. Sorry. I'm just—tired. And bleeding. And not thrilled about being back here."
Cassia looked around. "Where is here?"
"Your world," Corva said. "But not quite. The edges are fraying. You brought something back with you."
Keira's voice dropped. "The demon?"
Corva nodded. "It followed the tear. It won't stop."
Cassia's hands trembled. "Then what do we do?"
Corva looked at her. "You want answers? Fine. But not here. Not tonight."
—
They found the house just before the trees thickened again.
It was old and half-swallowed by ivy, the roof sagging in the middle, the windows fogged with dust. But the door opened without protest, and the inside was dry and quiet. A fireplace sat cold and empty in the corner. A broken mirror hung above it, cracked down the center.
Keira lit a candle from her pack. "This place is creepy."
Cassia helped Corva to a faded couch. "It's shelter."
Corva sank into the cushions with a groan. "I've slept in worse."
Cassia found a blanket in a chest and draped it over her. "You need to rest."
Corva looked up at her. "You're kind. That's dangerous here."
Keira sat on the floor, arms around her knees. "So is being vague. You want to start explaining now?"
Corva closed her eyes. "What do you want to know?"
"Everything," Keira said. "Start with what you are."
Corva opened one eye. "A crow. A girl. A mistake. Take your pick."
Cassia sat beside her. "You said the trap was meant for us."
Corva nodded. "The Dreamscript leaves a mark. It calls things. Some of them want to help. Most don't."
Keira frowned. "So the demon—"
"Was following the scent," Corva said. "It's not the only one."
Cassia's voice was quiet. "Why did you help us?"
Corva looked at her. "Because I remember what it's like. To be lost. To be hunted. To want something so badly you'd burn for it."
Keira's voice softened. "What did you lose?"
Corva didn't answer.
—
They lit a fire and shared the last of their food—dried fruit, half a chocolate bar, a handful of almonds. Corva refused most of it, sipping water and staring into the flames.
Cassia sat beside her. "You said the book is gone. Is there any way to get it back?"
Corva shook her head. "Not that one. But there are other ways in. Older ones. Slower. More dangerous."
Keira leaned back against the wall. "Of course. Because nothing's ever easy."
Cassia looked at Corva. "Can you take us?"
Corva hesitated. "I can try. But I'm not what I used to be. I don't know what's changed."
Keira raised an eyebrow. "So we're just supposed to trust you?"
Corva met her gaze. "You already did. You pulled me out of that trap."
Keira didn't look away. "That was before you turned into a knife-winged firebird and got us attacked by a demon."
Corva smiled faintly. "Fair."
Cassia stood. "Enough. We're all tired. We'll figure it out in the morning."
Keira sighed. "Fine. But I'm sleeping with one eye open."
Corva closed her eyes. "Good. You'll need to."
—