I awoke with a start, gasping for air as beads of sweat trickled down my forehead. My heart pounded in my chest, the echoes of the nightmare still haunting my mind. It was the same dream that had plagued me for as long as I could remember, but this time, it felt different. Vivid. Real.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I realized I wasn't in my own bed. The forest surrounded me, its tall, ancient trees casting long shadows in the moonlight. Panic coursed through my veins as I struggled to recall how I had ended up here. I reached out for something familiar, something to anchor me in this disorienting moment.

"Jake?" I whispered, my voice trembling. I strained my ears, hoping to hear the reassuring sound of his voice, but all I heard was the rustling of leaves in the night breeze. My mind raced with worry, wondering if he was safe, if he was searching for me.

I pushed myself up, feeling the cold dampness of the forest floor beneath my palms. My breath hitched as I caught sight of my reflection in a nearby puddle. My once-tangled dark hair was now matted with ashes, my face smudged with dirt and streaks of black.

Ashes. That's what always covered me when I woke up from these nightmares. It was an eerie phenomenon, one that remained unexplained. I had questioned Jake about it before, but he could only offer me his unwavering support and his unwavering love.

I wiped the dirt from my face, the ash smearing across my skin. Something told me that the answers I sought lay within the depths of the forest, waiting to be discovered. With a newfound determination, I pushed myself to my feet, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

As I took my first tentative steps, the forest seemed to come alive around me. The whispering of leaves grew louder, as if the trees themselves were murmuring secrets that I couldn't quite decipher. I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself for comfort.