It was a dark void full night not even being illuminated by the specks of tiny bright dots in the sky that would be the guiding light that would usually aid in the travels of strangers, it was quite a challenge even to be aware of what was in front of you let alone your surroundings but even in the endless darkness that filled the area around Howard he continued trying to navigate through the pillars of oak and leaves that seemed to stretch on as long as the human eye could see. Even with a flashlight in hand, it was still quite a challenge to be informed about the obstacles that might cause him and the Park trouble, as it was his job as the park ranger to investigate the strange and paranormal activities that were bringing gossip around and stain the park's image. So even if Howard wanted to lounge around all day without lifting a single finger, he still had to drag himself out of bed and try to find the supposed beast that lurked behind the never-ending oak trees in the dead of night.
"Perfect. Exactly how I wanted to spend my night. Lost in the middle of nowhere, chasing ghosts," Howard muttered, kicking a fallen branch. "I should have just stuck to traffic duty... Still, I had no choice in the matter, as I was dead broke and had no name for myself so I had to pick the only job that wanted me", Howard complained, as the noise of crunching leaves was the only thing noticeable in the cold dead environment.
As Howard continued his search something still stuck at the back of his mind....
"You know it quite weird that a well-known park with a high status would hire me without a second thought and any interview questions as well", Howard began inquiring with himself.
As Howard was still in his world he had overlooked the fact that the forest around him went fully silent not even the hot of the owl as the strange events were beginning to unravel around him with him even realizing the fluorescent light in this had to flicker without control and that began to freak our protagonist out. Even though he had never believed in the supernatural he still had a feeling in his stomach that told him to run with every ounce of energy in his body.
His heart pounded so loudly it drowned out the rustling leaves. Howard's hands shook as he tried to steady the flashlight. The darkness wasn't just closing in—it was alive, pressing against his skin like cold fingers... Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, sent shivers down his spine. A cold and eerie whisper began to enter Howard's mind.
"SHIT! I have seen too many horror movies to know where this leads!" Howard Mumer to himself with a shaky breath, as this felt as if his legs were made of twigs
"Well I'm not sticking around to find out what happens", Howard told himself as he began to run as if his life depended on it
Howard ran. His feet pounded the earth, breath ragged in his throat. Behind him, the forest stirred, something large moving in the shadows. It was closing in... But no matter how fast he ran, it was as if the darkness was gaining on him, wrapping around him like a suffocating blanket. As he ran, Howard's mind raced with questions. What was lurking in the shadows? And most importantly, why did he feel he was being hunted by something far more sinister than he could ever imagine? With each step, Howard felt the darkness closing around him, swallowing him whole. As he stumbled and fell to the forest floor, his flashlight rolling out of reach, he knew he was running out of time, it was like he was reaching the end of the line and maybe his life.
The darkness was suffocating. Howard's breath came out in sharp, uneven gasps as the beam from his flashlight cut a narrow path through the trees. The night pressed in from all sides, a silent predator, and every step felt heavier, every sound louder.
In the distance, a low growl rumbled through the trees, sending a chill down Howard's spine. With trembling hands, he reached for his radio, desperate for any sign of help. But all he heard was static, mocking him laughing in his desperation. And then, just as Howard thought he couldn't take another moment of fear, he saw it—a faint glimmer of light in the distance, flickering like a beacon of hope in the endless night. But as he dragged himself towards it, the darkness seemed to grow thicker, more oppressive, as if it were trying to pull him back into its depths. With one final burst of strength, Howard reached out toward the light, his fingers brushing against its warm glow. And in that moment, everything went black...