I ran.
I didn't care how hard the rain poured or how violently the wind shook the trees. I just kept running, driven by the desperate need to find Isabella. Branches scratched my arms as I pushed deeper into the forest, barely noticing the pain. Mud splashed beneath my feet, making every step harder, while my tears mixed with the rain streaming down my face. I kept moving forward, refusing to stop, even as the storm seemed to grow stronger around me.
"Isabel!" I shouted.
The storm swallowed my voice as I kept running until I reached the large rock beside the old tree—the place where Isabel always sat waiting for me. This was the place where we had laughed together, shared stories, and spent countless quiet moments. This was where she danced beneath the moonlight, where I had seen her smile, and where I had come to know her. I looked around desperately, my heart pounding as I searched through the rain and darkness. But she wasn't there.
"Isabel!"
My voice cracked.
"This isn't funny!"
"Please..."
"Come out."
"You said we'd see each other again!" I shouted, my voice barely carrying through the violent storm. The only answer was the roar of the wind. Rain pounded against the surface of the lake as lightning flashed across the dark sky, illuminating the forest for brief, terrifying moments. "Isabel!" I screamed again. "I know you're here! I don't believe them! They're lying!" My voice echoed through the trees, but there was no response.
"Please..."
A loud cracking sound suddenly echoed above me. I looked up, my heart stopping as I saw a massive tree branch snapping free from the trunk. Before I could react, it came crashing toward me.
"Ace!"
Someone suddenly shoved me with all their strength. I lost my balance and fell hard onto the muddy ground, barely managing to catch myself. A split second later, the heavy branch came crashing down, slamming into the exact spot where I had been standing only moments before. I froze, staring at the fallen branch in disbelief.
"Dad?" I stared at him in disbelief. He stood in front of me, breathing heavily, his clothes completely soaked from the rain. Water dripped from his face as he struggled to catch his breath. Without saying a word, he stepped closer and firmly grabbed my shoulders, his eyes filled with fear and concern.
"Ace!"
His hands searched my arms and face, checking for any injuries. "Are you hurt?" I couldn't answer. I pushed his hands away and struggled to my feet. "I know where she lives." I looked at him, my voice filled with urgency. "Dad, she's waiting for me." Before he could stop me, I started running again. "Ace!" Dad shouted, but he had no choice but to chase after me. The rain grew heavier as we followed the narrow trail deeper into the forest, with the wind howling through the trees around us.
Finally...
I stopped.
In front of us stood an old wooden house or rather, what was left of it. The roof had partially collapsed, the windows were broken, and the walls were covered in thick vines and moss. Wild grass had completely swallowed the front yard, creeping up toward the damaged walls. The entire place looked as though it had been abandoned for decades, forgotten by the world and left to decay beneath the forest.
My heart began to pound.
"No..."
I slowly stepped closer.
"This..."
I pointed at the house with trembling hands. "Dad..." My voice shook as I struggled to find the words. "This is where she lives. This is the house she showed me. I've been here. We cleaned this place together." My voice broke as I stared at the ruined house in disbelief. "It wasn't like this. It wasn't..." Before I could take another step, Dad walked toward me and pulled me into a tight embrace.
"That's enough, Ace."
His voice trembled.
"Please..."
I struggled against him.
"No!"
"She's here!"
"She has to be here!"
"I promised I'd come back!"
He held me tighter.
"Please..."
He grabbed both sides of my face, making me look directly at him. His eyes were filled with tears, and for the first time, I saw a vulnerability in my father's expression that I had never seen before.
"Enough!"
His voice echoed through the storm.
"Please, son..."
"That's enough." The anger inside me disappeared, leaving nothing but pain in its place. I stared at him for a moment before my knees finally gave way. A sob escaped my lips, followed by another, and then another. I buried my face against his shoulder and cried like a little boy, letting all the pain I had been holding inside finally spill out. Dad wrapped his arms tightly around me, holding me as the rain poured around us. Neither of us noticed the figure in a white dress standing silently beneath the old tree, watching us with tears falling from her own eyes.