Suzie lay awake longer than she expected.

  The house had gone quiet hours ago, yet her mind refused to settle. Upstairs, her bedroom window was slightly open, letting in the cool breath of the night. The curtains swayed gently, brushing the wall like whispers. She turned on her side and stared at the ceiling.

  Downstairs, the television was still on.

  She had heard it earlier—the faint murmur of late-night news mixing with the hum of the ceiling fan. Her mother must have fallen asleep on the sofa again without switching it off. Normally, Suzie would go down and turn it off. But she is not interested

  She closed her eyes.

  In sleep, her face softened. Without the constant crease of worry between her brows, she looked younger, almost fragile. If anyone had seen her then, they might have thought she had no burdens at all.

  But even in her dreams, something felt unfinished.

  It was close to two in the morning when she woke up.

  Her throat felt dry, as if she had swallowed dust. For a moment she didn't know where she was. The digital clock on her bedside table glowed faintly: 2:03 AM.

  She pushed herself up slowly, careful not to make noise. The house was silent except for the distant murmur of the television downstairs.

  Still on.

  She slipped out of bed and padded across the cold floor. The staircase creaked softly as she descended, each step taken cautiously so she wouldn't wake her mother.

  The living room lights were off, but the television cast flickering blue shadows across the walls. Her mother lay asleep on the sofa, one arm hanging off the edge, breathing steadily.

  Suzie went first to the kitchen.

  She poured herself a full glass of water and drank it in long gulps. Then another. The coolness soothed her throat then

  She turned toward the living room, ready to switch off the television.

  That was when she saw it.

  The news anchor's voice was tense.

  "…residents are advised to remain indoors. A tiger has reportedly been spotted roaming near the outskirts of Andie City. The forest department has confirmed they are actively searching the area…"

  The screen shifted to blurry footage—recorded from a phone, probably. A large striped figure moved between trees at the edge of a road near andie mountain. Streetlights flickered in the background. The animal paused briefly, turning its head toward the camera.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Suzie froze.

  Her heart stopped.

  The shape, the eyes, the way it carried itself—

  "It's him…" she whispered.

  Knight.

  There was no doubt in her mind.

  The same tiger she had hidden, fed, and protected. The same tiger she had left alone at home, thinking it was only for a while. The same tiger who had vanished without a trace.

  Her eyes filled with tears—not of fear, but of overwhelming relief.

  He was alive.

  But relief quickly tangled with dread.

  "…traps have been set near Andie Mountain," the reporter continued. "Officials warn that the animal may be dangerous."

  Dangerous.

  What if they shot him?

  What if he was cornered?

  Suzie's fingers tightened around the remote. She forced herself to breathe. Carefully, she switched off the television. The room fell into darkness.

  Her mother shifted slightly but didn't wake.

  Suzie walked back upstairs slowly—almost too slowly—her mind racing faster than her steps. Each creak of the staircase sounded louder than before. She paused once, listening for any movement below. Nothing.

  Back in her room, she closed the door quietly and leaned against it.

  "It's my fault," she whispered to herself.

  If i hadn't left him alone…

  If i had been more careful…

  Knight would never have wandered out into the city.

  She climbed into bed again, but sleep did not return easily. Every time she closed her eyes, she imagined forest officers with rifles, reporters crowding the mountain roads, and Knight running alone in confusion.

  By the time morning light began to spill through her window, she had already made a decision.

  Sunlight flooded the room.

  The alarm clock blinked 6:00 AM, just seconds away from ringing. Suzie's hand shot out from under the blanket and switched it off before it could make a sound.

  She sat up immediately.

  She washed up quickly, tied her hair neatly, and packed her school bag. Her movements were precise, controlled. On the outside, she looked like any normal student preparing for another school day.

  Inside, she was preparing for something else.

  When she stepped out of the house, the morning air felt unusually sharp. She locked the door behind her and started walking toward the usual route to school.

  At the familiar turn near the old shop, she saw him.

  Gill,

  He liked walking with her. That much was obvious. Though he was her junior, he follows her around with a mixture of admiration and love.

  As she drew closer, he attempted to hide behind the truck.

  she called out to his phone.

  He froze.

  Then, slowly, he stepped out, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh… hey, Suzie. I didn't see you there."

  "Really?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

  They walked in silence for a few moments. The road was already busy with students in uniforms, bicycles passing, and shopkeepers opening shutters.

  Gill cleared his throat.

  "Did you hear the news?" he asked, trying to sound serious. "There's a tiger roaming around our city."

  Suzie kept her expression neutral. "Is that so?"

  "Yeah," he continued, gaining confidence. "They say it's near Andie Mountain. If I saw it, I'd punch it."

  Suzie stopped walking.

  "You'd punch it?"

  "Of course!" he said quickly. "I mean… I am brave. It's just a tiger."

  She studied his face.

  He was trying so hard to impress her. His shoulders were squared; his voice slightly louder than necessary. He wanted to appear brave. Strong.

  At the end of the day, she thought, he's still just a boy trying to act like a hero.

  A faint smile touched her lips.

  "Why don't we get a photo of it then?" she said casually.

  Gill blinked. "A photo?"

  "Yes. If we see it."

  He hesitated for only a second. The opportunity to spend time with her outweighed his common sense.

  "Sure," he said. "I'm not scared."

  "I didn't say you were."

  They resumed walking.

  After a few more steps, Suzie spoke again. "Let's meet after school."

  Gill's heart skipped. "After school?"

  "Near Andie Mountain," she continued smoothly. "We can search for it."

  He stared at her, unsure whether she was serious.

  "The forest department has already set traps," he said. "It might be dangerous."

  "That's why it's interesting," she replied.

  But her eyes were distant.

  She wasn't doing this for adventure.

  She needed to find Knight before anyone else did.

  Gill interpreted her silence differently. This, he thought, this was his chance. If he could prove himself brave—if he could stand beside her while facing a tiger—she might see him differently.

  "I'm in," he said firmly.

  Suzie looked at him.

  "Good," she replied.

  They reached the school gates just as the first bell rang. Students poured in, unaware that beyond their classrooms, somewhere near the forest line of Andie Mountain, a tiger moved alone.

  And that by sunset, two students would be searching for it.

  Suzie adjusted her bag strap and stepped through the gates, her expression calm.

  But inside, her resolve burned fiercely.

  No matter what it took, she would bring Knight back.

  Before the city decided his fate for him.