A small squirrel, perched on the railing, seemed utterly stunned. It stayed frozen, as if carved from stone, its glossy black eyes fixed on Yu Sheng without blinking. For a moment, it didn’t move at all, which only made the scene feel more unsettling.
Truth be told, being stared at by a talking squirrel was unnerving enough on its own.
Yu Sheng couldn’t help but wonder—what was the squirrel’s story?
If this dark forest really was the “Fairy Tale Otherworld” that Little Red Riding Hood had mentioned, the same one she blamed for her curse, perhaps this squirrel was a being brought to life by that very otherworld. Could it be a creature with emotions and intelligence, like a person? And what about the wolves—were they also creations of this place? Was it possible for two such opposing forces to exist in the same realm?
He realized how little he actually knew about these strange places.
“Strange, very strange,” the squirrel finally murmured, breaking free from its trance. It began pacing along the railing, its bushy tail flicking nervously. “This has never happened before! Never, ever! Only Little Red Riding Hood can come here. I’ve never heard of a ‘friend’ entering. This is unheard of! Something’s happening. Something bad… How did you get in? How did you get in?”
Without warning, the squirrel sprang onto Yu Sheng’s arm, scratching frantically at his sleeve. Its tiny voice repeated, “How did you get in? How did you get in?”
“I… I don’t know,” Yu Sheng replied, shaking his head.
He chose not to tell the squirrel the entire truth. Even though the creature seemed intelligent and somewhat friendly, Yu Sheng still believed it might be another manifestation of the forest. He couldn’t fully trust anything here, not when he still didn’t understand all the rules of this place. Who could say whether the squirrel’s apparent helpfulness was genuine or just another part of the forest’s plan?
Yu Sheng felt a jolt in his chest. “Did Little Red Riding Hood come here after hearing a bedtime story and having that kind of dream?”
“That’s how it always works! Always!” the squirrel exclaimed, its nervous energy barely in check. “But only children—only children can come here! Grown-ups shouldn’t be able to… not usually…”
“Why do you say that?” Yu Sheng asked with a frown.
“How should I know? I’m just a squirrel!” The creature rubbed its face with its paws in agitation, looking more frantic by the second. “We can’t stand around here talking! The lamps are dimming, and the path’s going to vanish. We need to hurry—to the next safe spot. Move! Before they catch up!”
As if on cue, the atmosphere around them began to change. The fanciful lamps that had lit the forest trail were dimming fast. One by one, each light faded, and the path lost its clarity, swallowed by the looming darkness of the forest. A cold, sticky sense of malice seeped through the air, drawing ever closer from all directions.
Instinctively, Yu Sheng started walking, quickening his pace. “Which way? Where are we going?” he asked urgently.
“Follow the path! Just follow the path!” the squirrel shrieked, its voice sharp with tension. “Keep going, and you’ll see other paths lit up—or maybe a cabin’s light. Cabins can be dangerous, but sometimes you can rest there. Most important of all, watch out for anything tempting you off the trail. When the lights go out, those things will lure you into the forest. That’s how the wolves set their traps.”
Yu Sheng immediately remembered the squirrel’s earlier warning not to be distracted by any pretty flowers or mushrooms along the way.
“Don’t worry,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m not a kid. I won’t fall for something like that.”
Still, he couldn’t help wondering what would happen if a child wandered through this endless dark forest. How old had Little Red Riding Hood been when she first stumbled in? Had she ever been tempted by flowers or mushrooms and left the path?
After all, the squirrel implied that being hunted by wolves wasn’t a one-time event. A child stuck in this place might be devoured over and over, each time losing part of their soul. How many hunts had Little Red Riding Hood endured before she became so strong?
“I hope you’re not tempted,” the squirrel muttered under its breath. “The forest always finds a way to lure you. It always does…”
Yu Sheng let out a bitter chuckle and walked faster. The trail grew dimmer, its outline fading into the dark. He did his best to keep his eyes on the path but couldn’t resist a quick glance at the forest’s edge. ℞𝒶Ŋο฿ЁŜ
A gleam of light caught his eye in the shadows. Narrowing his gaze, he realized it was a brand-new 090 graphics card lying there in the grass.
He looked closer. Next to it sat a shiny new laptop. Nearby was a premium gaming controller with colorful lights and its own collector’s edition carrying case.
Yu Sheng blinked in astonishment. Farther up, he spotted a neat toolkit—a limited-edition electric drill still sealed in its box—followed by crates of iced tea, a carbon fiber fishing rod set, and a spotless tackle box.
Off to one side, there was a little pond with a makeshift stone shelter. Underneath the shelter, a folding chair, fishing gear, and half a case of beer lay ready to go. A fisherman seemed to be tidying up his spot, as though about to leave.
The squirrel on Yu Sheng’s shoulder looked just as shocked, its black eyes stretched wide. “What in the world is that?!”
“Adult versions of flowers and mushrooms,” Yu Sheng said, feeling uneasy. He tore his eyes away from the scene, clenching his teeth. “This forest is way too dangerous…”
He forced himself forward, ignoring the countless traps scattered along the path. At last, the illusions stopped appearing. The path lights had faded to a faint, flickering glow that could almost be mistaken for fireflies. In the distance, deep in the woods, a small light shone.
“There!” the squirrel said, bouncing on his shoulder. “A place to rest! Hurry! Maybe there’ll be a warm fire and hot soup waiting!”
Yu Sheng didn’t hesitate. He moved swiftly toward the light. The forest behind them grew colder and darker, until a distant howl shattered the silence. More howls followed, each closer than the last.
The wolves had caught his scent, and their unseen web was closing around him.
But by then, Yu Sheng had found the source of the glow—a cabin.
It was a humble wooden building, worn with age, standing alone in the heart of the forest. Warm, golden light spilled from its windows, standing out sharply against the deep shadows outside.
He approached the door and noticed red cloth strips tied to the frame and red string draped around the windows and eaves. He wasn’t sure if these were decorations or if they held some hidden meaning.
“Wait,” the squirrel said in a hurried whisper. “Look through the crack in the door. Can you see the bed? If someone’s in it—if the ‘grandmother’ is there—we can’t stay. But if no one’s inside, it’s safe.”
Yu Sheng did as he was told, peering through a narrow gap. Inside, he saw a simple, cozy interior: a fireplace glowing with light, a wooden table with bread, flowers, and candles, and an empty bed in the corner.
“No one’s there,” he reported.
“Excellent! Then we can rest,” the squirrel said happily. “Finally, some good luck! We can stay until you wake up!”
Yu Sheng nodded. The howls were drawing nearer. Without wasting a second, he pushed open the wooden door.
The sound of the wolves faded the moment he stepped inside.
Yu Sheng entered the cabin with the squirrel on his shoulder, carefully closing the door behind him.
A comforting warmth filled the room, driving out the forest’s chilly gloom. The fire crackled merrily, bringing a soothing light that chased away every shadow of unease. Yu Sheng felt his shoulders ease for the first time in hours.
“Relax,” the squirrel said, hopping onto the table. “A cabin without a grandmother is the only truly safe place in this forest. Just pray you don’t hear any knocks or footsteps out of nowhere…”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation