The scene opens with Dakota and Henry walking away from the witch's cottage. The air is thick with tension, and the faint scent of burning herbs still clings to their clothes. Dakota's mind churns as he clutches the ancient tome the witch gave him, its weight heavier than it should be. Henry walks beside him, his face a mixture of irritation and unease.
Henry: (breaking the silence) "Alright, so… what the hell just happened back there? She's creepy as hell, and she knows way too much."
Dakota: (distracted) "She's a witch. That's kind of her thing."
Henry: (gesturing to the book) "And this? What even is that? Some cursed artifact that's going to explode in our faces?"
Dakota stops walking, turning the book over in his hands. The leather cover feels alive under his touch, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat. He's careful not to open it yet, knowing better than to delve into something magical without preparation. His thoughts turn inward.
"I wrote about her. In the novel, she was an enigmatic figure—a neutral party who never allied with anyone but offered just enough guidance to steer others toward their fate. But this… this wasn't how I imagined meeting her. She wasn't supposed to look at me like she already knew everything about me. She wasn't supposed to be real."
Dakota: (after a pause, softly) "It's information. That's all we need to worry about right now."
Henry: (grumbling) "Sure, because information doesn't get people killed."
Dakota ignores him, his mind replaying the witch's words. The mention of the "Unseen One" sends a shiver down his spine. That wasn't in his novel. The concept felt foreign, like something new had woven itself into the story he thought he controlled. He glances back toward the distant outline of the cottage, now barely visible through the trees.
"She knows too much. And this world… it's evolving beyond what I wrote. What did I change? Or was this always going to happen?"
---
The two emerge into a wide clearing bathed in moonlight. The forest's oppressive darkness gives way to an eerie stillness, the kind that sets instincts on edge. Dakota stops abruptly, sensing something off. Henry, noticing his hesitation, reaches for his sword.
Henry: (lowering his voice) "What is it?"
Dakota: (narrowing his eyes) "We're being watched."
A sudden rustle in the underbrush confirms Dakota's suspicion. Before they can react, shadowy figures step out from the treeline, their forms obscured by dark cloaks. There are five of them, each radiating an aura of malevolence. Their leader, a tall figure with glowing red eyes, steps forward.
Leader: (mocking) "Well, well. If it isn't the infamous Dakota. You've been busy, haven't you?"
Henry's grip tightens on his weapon, his muscles coiled like a spring. Dakota remains calm, his expression unreadable as he assesses the situation. The leader's voice is oddly familiar, though Dakota can't place it. His mind races.
"I've written about encounters like this, but these faces… they aren't ones I know. This isn't supposed to happen."
Dakota: (coldly) "Who sent you?"
Leader: (laughing) "Let's just say we have mutual enemies. And you've been causing them quite a bit of trouble."
Without warning, the leader raises a hand, and the clearing is engulfed in dark flames. The shadows writhe like living creatures, twisting and coiling around Dakota and Henry. The air grows suffocating, the temperature plummeting despite the fiery aura.
Henry: (yelling) "What the hell is this?!"
Dakota: (calmly) "Stay close. They're testing us."
The shadows surge forward, aiming to consume them. Dakota's eyes narrow as he raises his hand, summoning a brilliant burst of blue flames that pushes the darkness back. The light from his fire clashes violently with the shadowy flames, the two forces battling for dominance.
Leader: (amused) "Impressive. But let's see how long you can hold out."
---
Henry springs into action, his sword igniting with his own fiery magic. He charges at one of the cloaked figures, slashing through the shadowy tendrils that lash out at him. Dakota, meanwhile, focuses on the leader, who seems to command the dark flames with ease. The two lock eyes, and the leader smirks.
Leader: "You're strong, I'll give you that. But strength alone won't save you."
The leader launches a barrage of dark flames, each one crackling with an unnatural energy. Dakota counters with a wall of blue fire, the two forces colliding in a dazzling explosion of light and shadow. The ground beneath them scorches, the clash of elements shaking the clearing.
As Dakota fights, his thoughts drift back to the witch's warning.
"The Unseen One grows stronger. Even the shadows will no longer hide you."
Was this what she meant? Were these attackers somehow connected to that force? Dakota's grip on his magic tightens as he pushes the questions aside. Now wasn't the time for answers—only action.
Henry: (grinning, to Dakota) "You gonna let me have all the fun, or what?"
Dakota: (smirking slightly) "Try not to burn down the forest."
The two fight in sync, their flames lighting up the night. Henry's fiery strikes are wild and unrelenting, while Dakota's magic is precise, calculated. The cloaked figures struggle to keep up, their shadowy attacks faltering under the onslaught of fire. One by one, they fall, their forms dissipating into the night like smoke.
---
Only the leader remains, his glowing red eyes burning brighter as he stands amidst the destruction. Despite his loss, he seems unfazed, even amused. He raises a hand, and the dark flames surrounding him swirl into a vortex.
Leader: (mocking) "This is only the beginning, Dakota. The Unseen One will come for you, and when it does, there won't be a forest left to burn."
With that, the leader vanishes into the vortex, leaving only the faint smell of sulfur behind. The clearing falls silent, the oppressive energy dissipating. Dakota and Henry stand amidst the charred ground, their flames flickering before dying out.
Henry: (sheathing his sword) "Well, that was... new. You think he was bluffing?"
Dakota: (quietly) "No. He wasn't."
Dakota's gaze shifts to the tome still clutched in his hand. The witch's cryptic warnings echo in his mind, mingling with the leader's parting words. The path ahead was growing darker, more uncertain, and Dakota knew that whatever came next would test them in ways they weren't prepared for.
He tightened his grip on the book, his resolve hardening.
"If the Unseen One wants me, it'll have to face me first."