The forest had always felt honest to Oscar. It didn’t pretend, didn’t soften its intentions, and certainly didn’t care who was afraid of what waited between the trees. Snow covered the ground in a thick, untouched layer, though Dior had already ruined that with the frantic trail she’d left behind. Oscar followed it at an easy pace, never needing to rush. He could hear the faint crunch of her footsteps ahead of him, occasionally followed by the snap of a branch as she stumbled through the woods. She was running as fast as she could, but Oscar knew the forest better than she did. Eventually, she would run out of places to go.

He caught sight of her just as she disappeared behind a cluster of trees, and a faint smile tugged at his mouth. Oscar quickened his pace, weaving effortlessly between the trunks until he was close enough to hear her uneven breathing. Dior glanced over her shoulder, realized how close he was, and immediately tried to pick up speed. She barely made it another few steps before Oscar caught up, grabbing her and stopping her momentum. He turned her around and pressed her chest first against the nearest tree, keeping her there as she struggled to catch her breath. Snow fell quietly around them while Oscar looked down at her, completely calm despite the frantic chase that had just taken place.

“Shh. Sh.” He cooed, almost as though he were trying to soothe her rather than stop her from running again. His gaze stayed fixed on her face as he watched the panic settle into her expression. “You always panic like this.” His voice dropped, amusement creeping into it as he leaned slightly closer. “It’s adorable.” Oscar watched every little movement she made, waiting to see whether she would try to pull away again. After everything, she still seemed to think there was some chance she could get away from him.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The forest had gone strangely silent around them, leaving only their breathing and the distant sound of wind moving through the branches. Oscar’s expression softened into something almost pleased as he looked at the trail she had left behind and then back at her. She had run, hidden, and tried to lose him in the snow, but none of it had worked. He had found her exactly where he knew he would. “You really thought I wouldn’t find you?” He murmured, the faintest smile returning to his face.