I reach down for the note, my fingers trembling as my hair, the same dark shade as the room, falls forward obscuring my vision. The paper is smooth against my skin, and my stomach churns with unease as I unfold the enticing letter.

Dear Lilianne Mintz,

You don’t know me, but I know an awful lot about you. I’ve been watching you ever since the day you stepped foot in this prison they call a hospital. You could say... I’ve been supervising you, of sorts. I know almost everything about you, from your favorite socks to the ivy flecks in your icy-blue eyes. But most importantly... I know what makes you...tick

I stop, wiping my hands on the cotton of my hospital gown. The paper feels cold in my hands, like the words themselves have somehow seeped into my skin.

Considering you’re reading this, it must mean you’ve noticed Grayson’s absence. Don’t worry—he won’t be harmed... yet. But if you can’t find him... well, I can’t promise anything. You see, I’m terribly lonely. I once used to be a patient here too, and I had a relationship just like yours—until one day, the doctors ruined her beyond repair. Now, I want to play a game. If you’re not too much of a coward, that is. I’ll be hiding clues in certain places that will lead you to your beloved Grayson.

Your first clue is:

In the dark of night, where shadows creep,
By the water’s edge, where secrets keep.
A silvery path, moonlit and grand,
Leads to a door beside the land.
What place must you find, quiet and still,
Where the stars reflect and the air is chill?

If I were you, I’d hurry. You don’t want those flowers to wilt, do you? If they do, it’s Game Over.

The room tilts sideways, the edges of my vision blurring. I can feel myself swaying, like I’m about to fall into a void. The next thing I know, nurses are carrying me back to my bed, their voices muffled, urgently hooking up machines to me.

A soft knock at my door pulls me back to the present. It’s the nurse again. She’s here to take my vitals, but my mind is still reeling from the letter. It's been three days since Grayson disappeared, and the flowers are still in perfect condition, but I can’t let myself relax—not until I solve this.

"How are you feeling, Lily?" the honey-voiced nurse asks. "I’m just going to take your vitals, okay?"

I hear her sigh at my non-responsiveness but still sit there motionless, wishing for her to hurry and just take my vitals and leave... The silence presses in, thick and heavy, suffocating my thoughts. Once she’s gone, I turn my gaze back to the window, searching for anything that might help me solve the riddle. The waters edge, the silvery path, and that mysterious "door"—nothing makes sense yet.

The nurses’ hushed gossip drifts in from the hallway, but I pay it no mind. All that matters is figuring out the riddle. It has to be at the lake, in the forest—but what am I missing?

The sky slowly changes color, shifting from blue to pink, orange, and finally a deep, dusky blue. As night falls, I pretend to sleep, watching the shadows lengthen from the comfort of my bed. Once I’m sure the last nurse has finished her rounds, I slip out of bed and out the window to continue my search.

By the time I reach the lake, the moon is high, casting long shadows across the water. I cross my arms, pulling them tight around myself to ward off the cold. I’ve been searching for over an hour now, squinting through the dark for any sign of the clue. Exhaustion sets in, but I refuse to give up.

"What does this riddle mean?" I mutter in frustration, slamming my fist into the ground. My hand strikes something smooth, and I pick up a small pebble. Without thinking, I skip it across the water.

I reach for another pebble, but then—soft paws of a rabbit nudge me, pushing me off balance. Before I can react, I stumble into the water, gasping as the icy water hits my skin. 

The cold shock of the water is fresh in my mind, but when I open my eyes, everything has shifted. The icy forest is gone, replaced by bright buildings and the buzz of voices. It’s so bright, so warm, and yet no one seems to notice me. It’s as if I’m invisible in this new world. I blink in disbelief, trying to grasp what just happened. 

I take a step forward, unsure of where this place even is, but every instinct tells me to keep moving. I need to find Grayson—this has to be part of the game.