The little boy’s breath hitched as he stumbled through the cold, dimly lit corridors. His tiny hands trembled, and his cheeks were streaked with tears. "Mom, where are you?" he sobbed, his voice barely above a whisper. He had been lost for what felt like an eternity—ten long minutes of wandering aimlessly, calling out for her. But there was no sign of his mother, nor the guards who were supposed to follow him everywhere. The castle, once a place of wonder and safety, now felt like a maze of shadows and echoes.
Another sob escaped his lips. "Mom!" His voice was hoarse from crying, the sound swallowed by the vast, empty halls. The air grew colder with each passing moment, and the fading light from the narrow windows made the corridors feel even more foreboding. All the boy wanted was to fee
