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Slowly, without haste, they approached. One after another, several torches rose into the air and flew in through the half-broken window. The old fabric that had once served as a curtain was the first to catch fire. The wood immediately accepted the fire - dry, cracking, filled with time and oblivion.

She stood frozen in place, mesmerized, watching the house burn. The flames licked the old wooden walls, growing with each passing second. On the side, behind the walls, the boys stood back and laughed, watching the burning house as if it was something ordinary.

She looked from them to the burning beams, back to their faces, disfigured with malice. Everything seemed to freeze, even their breathing stopped. She was only pulled out of shock when the heat from the flames touched her face - the fire was already a meter away.

Slowly, tripping over her own feet, she walked out of the house, still not fully aware of what she was doing. Her appearance immediately attracted the attention of the boys. One of them walked toward her, smiling and clenching his fists.

"Hey, guys, she got out of the house! Baby, come here!" he exclaimed mockingly.

The other boys followed him. The approaching words and footsteps finally brought her back to reality. She turned sharply and ran as fast as she could into the woods that stretched out near the house.

She did not look back. Voices and screams could be heard behind her for a long time, but they were drowned out by the dull, heavy beating of her heart, echoing in her chest, drowning out everything else. She did not know where she was running - the thickets were becoming denser, harder to pass through. It was unknown who else was pursuing her, but her legs themselves carried her forward, through branches, bushes, pain and fear.

Only one thing stopped her - she got caught over a thick tree root. Having barely jumped over it, she lost her balance and fell down a small cliff, hearing her hands and feet scratching on the rough bark and branches.

The girl lay on the damp ground, every scratch of hell, every bruise a reminder of fatigue. The entire forest around her was dark, wild, as if it was breathing itself. Every rustle, every sound seemed threatening. She listened, to see if she could hear pursuit. But only the rustling of leaves and the distant hooting of an owl. Her heart calmed down a little, although anxiety did not leave.