Dani’s eyes fluttered open slowly, the dim light filtering through thin curtains casting soft shadows on unfamiliar wooden walls. Her head throbbed, a dull ache mingling with the lingering haze of the mushroom tea. Confusion washed over her as she tried to piece together where she was – not the bright, unsettling commune of Hårga, but a quiet, modest room that smelled faintly of pine and herbs.

She blinked, heart pounding, the vivid, terrifying images from the forest still fresh in her mind. The overwhelming panic from the bad trip was replaced by a fragile, cautious relief. Yet the fear didn’t fully dissipate; she felt raw, vulnerable, and utterly alone – until she noticed the faint sound of footsteps outside the door.

Dani’s breath hitched. Who had found her? Why was she here? The memories of the cult’s rituals, the pressure, the violence, and the cold smiles haunted her. Somewhere nearby, someone knew the truth about the Hårga – someone who might be her only hope.

Her body ached from the fall and the drug’s grip, but more than anything, she felt a desperate need to trust, to cling to any chance of escape from the nightmare she’d stumbled into.

As the door creaked open, Dani’s eyes searched for the face that had saved her – and the voice that would decide if she was safe or lost again.