Untie herself from the tree

Velvet Vixen grits her teeth and strains upward, her abs screaming, her corset definitely not designed for acrobatics. Inch by inch, she pulls herself toward the knot binding her ankles to the branch.

“You got this. You’re strong. You’re sexy. You’re—ugh, is that sap?”

After what feels like forever, her gloved fingers finally find the knot. It’s tight, slick with dew and tangled with leaves, but she manages to work it loose.

“Come on, come on—”

Snap.

Velvet Vixen hits the ground in a graceless sprawl of glitter, cape, and bruised dignity.

“Ow.”

She lies there for a moment, staring up at the treetops.

“Okay. That could have gone worse.”

She brushes off dirt, tugs her corset back into place, and checks her boots. Still intact. Still fabulous.

But her phone? Gone.

Her flashlight? Gone.

The trail of lanterns? Faded.

And the trees? Definitely still watching.

“Great.”

She exhales slowly, turning in place. The forest stretches in every direction—black, quiet, eerie. She can’t leave. Not yet. Not until she finds something. Someone. Anything.

Because someone—or something—wanted her here.