The morning dawned without the sun. Instead of the expected dawn, a strange lunar light bathed the forest, the moon remaining stubbornly clinging to the sky, casting its ghostly shadows over our camp. The phenomenon was confusing and slightly disturbing. We woke up one by one, perplexed by this unusual light.
I walked out of the makeshift shelter, looking up at the still-present moon, its silver glow accentuating the outlines of the trees and leaves around us. The other members of the group also emerged, their faces expressing the same confusion.
-Why is the moon still there?, asked one of us, a note of panic in his voice.
Our guide, always vigilant, tried to calm things down. "Remain calm. This world works differently than ours. We must remain focused and vigilant."
Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream tore through the air, emanating from the direction of the water source. It was the pilot.
-WHAT IS HAPPENING?!, yelled our guide
Without missing a beat, we all rushed toward the stream, hearts pounding, apprehension growing with each step.
When we arrived, we found the pilot kneeling near the water, his face contorted with terror. His hands shook and he pointed to something in the stream. Our guide approached cautiously, leaning in to see what had caused such a reaction.
In the clear water, a strange reflection appeared, like a moving shadow, seeming to observe from the other side of the stream. The shape was difficult to discern, but it gave off a palpable aura of menace.
-What is that?, Darcy whispered behind me.
Our guide sat up, his features drawn with worry. "I don't know exactly, but we need to get away from here. Right now."
The pilot got up with difficulty, still shaken. We supported him as we returned to our camp, the unseen danger weighing heavily on our minds. On the way, I felt the mysterious note in my pocket, a sting of reminder of the warning I had been given.
-This planet is really going to drive us crazy, Marc whispered to me
-I think so too, I replied in a low voice.
Back at camp, the guide spoke. "We need to move. This phenomenon may be linked to the voices and illusions from last night. This world seems to be playing with our perceptions. Stay together, don't drift apart."
We got ready quickly, gathering our things in silence. The guide pointed in a different direction, leading us deeper into the forest, away from the stream and the ominous shape that lived there. Every step was marked with caution, every noise analyzed with suspicion.
The forest, despite its strange and mysterious beauty, had become a place of distrust and heightened vigilance. We advanced in single file, the guide in the lead, his senses on maximum alert. The sun remained absent, the light of the moon continuing to bathe the forest in a spectral glow.
After an exhausting walk, we reached a new clearing. The guide signaled us to rest. "We will set up a new camp here for the day. Stay alert and watch for anything that might appear unusual."
We settled in carefully, keeping an eye out for shadows and movement around us. The events of the morning had strengthened our determination, but also our fear.
As I sat up to catch my breath, I felt the note in my pocket. I decided it was time to share the warning with the guide. I approached him discreetly and handed him the piece of paper.
"I found this last night," I told him. "I don't know who wrote it, but it seems important."
He took the note and read it carefully, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Don't let them find you. Miroy." He looked up at me. "We're not sure if he's talking about you or not but be careful."
The guide gathered the group, holding the note in hand. "We must remain united and vigilant. Someone or something knows of our presence here and is trying to communicate with us. We don't know yet if they are friendly or hostile. Let's stay on guard and continue to move forward together."
-It's strange to hear that the first name written on the sheet is the same as the name, Ambrose admitted to me worriedly
-Yeah it looks like whoever wrote the letter is addressing you, added Darcy
-Yeah and honestly it's a little scary, I answered them destabilizing