Frank's eyes narrow, a nagging unease prickling at the edge of his mind. He can't quite put his finger on it.
Henry steps forward, his voice firm and steady. "Alright, listen up, everyone." He claps his hands sharply, slicing through the low hum of restless chatter. The room stills, anticipation locking everyone in place. "Dusk is closing in. We can't stay out here much longer — we need shelter before it gets pitch black. I've found someone willing to give us a roof for the night. And come morning?" He snaps his fingers. "We're home."
Adam's gaze flicks to a lone figure standing in the distance. "You mean... him?" The group turns, eyes narrowing, suspicion simmering beneath the surface. A low murmur ripples through the crowd.
Henry raises his voice. "Guys, come on. Let's be realistic — the chances of us making it home tonight are slim. Just look around. We're stranded in the middle of nowhere."
Jinning crosses his arms, skepticism carved into his expression. "You're talking about trusting a total stranger."
The murmurs swell into worried voices.
Suddenly, Smith speaks, his voice low but firm. "We're not staying out here. This isn't just about discomfort — there are wild animals out there. Do you want to end up as someone's midnight snack?"
The group falls silent, stunned. They turn to look at Smith, shock written on their faces. This wasn't like him. Reserved, quiet, always on the edge of conversations — Smith never spoke up like this. What changed? They all wondered. A thick silence blankets the group, heavy with unspoken questions.
Tessa finally breaks the silence, her voice edged with disbelief. "Wild animals? Seriously? We're still in a town, not some backwoods nightmare."
Smith's jaw tightens, his eyes flicking away. "You need to face reality. This is the fringe of town — practically the wilderness. Out here? Anything can happen."
Jinning shakes his head, frustration etched on his face. "That's the best argument you've got?"
The group's unease boils over into squabbling voices, tension mounting.
"Enough!" Henry's voice cracks like a whip. The noise dies down instantly. His eyes sweep over the team, a mixture of weariness and resolve. "Listen, no one is getting eaten by wild animals or anything else. Smith?" He lets out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.
He takes a breath, his voice lower now, measured. "We're all adults here. I'm your manager — not your decision-maker. If you want to stay put and risk the night, fine. If you want to trust the shelter, that's on you, too. Whatever you decide, I'm with you. But the choice is yours." A hush fell over the group, the silence clinging to them for a moment before shattering like glass.
One by one, voices began to rise from the crowd.
"I'm in."
"I'm in."
"I'm in."
The chorus spread, a collective resignation and resolve. Henry's lips curled into a broad smile. Relief washed over him, heavy and bittersweet. The promise of rest felt almost too good to believe — every minute of the project had wrung him dry. The stranger's offer, though risky, was a glimmer of respite. It's just one night, he thought. And the old man didn't seem so bad.
The old man nodded and gestured for them to follow, stepping onto a narrow, overgrown path that snaked into the shadows. Leaves brushed against their arms, the rustling grass amplifying their unease. The tension in the group hung thick, a tangible weight.
Sensing the discomfort, the old man spoke, his voice calm but tinged with humour. "No need to worry, folks. The path may look wild, but it's the safest route. Name's Felix, by the way." His eyes twinkled as he glanced back.
Frank cleared his throat. "Sir?"
Felix paused, his gaze falling on the young man who had spoken. "Yes?"
Frank straightened his shoulders. "I'm Doctor Frank. The crew's medical assistant."
Felix's eyes softened. "Feeling uneasy, Doctor?"
Frank exhaled slowly, his voice a hushed admission. "This place is... unsettling. It's got me on edge, even if I don't want to admit it."
Felix chuckled softly, the sound almost lost in the whisper of the wind. "That's alright." He turned to Henry. "And you, what's your field?"
Henry pushed his hands into his pockets. "We're archaeologists. Everyone here, except for Frank. We're revisiting a project that was abandoned back in the '90s. We were called in urgently, but now..." He hesitated, his voice trailing off. "Now we can't seem to leave this town."
Felix's eyes glinted with something unreadable. "That's a troubling sign. What if you were never meant to leave?"
Henry's smile faded, replaced by a shadow of doubt. "What are you getting at?"
Felix tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Strange, isn't it? That a town would refuse to let you go..." He let the sentence linger, his eyes flickering with something unspoken.
A chill coiled in Henry's gut. He glanced at Frank, who was studying Felix with a mix of confusion and suspicion.
Then Felix burst out laughing, the sound startling in the gloom. "Relax, boys. Bad omens only show up when they're summoned. And when they do come, they answer to everyone."
Frank's brow furrowed, the words twisting through his mind like smoke. Was this old man toying with them, or was there truth hidden in the jest? His rational side baulked, but a deeper instinct whispered that Felix wasn't entirely joking.
Felix's laughter subsided, and he wiped a tear from his eye. "You fell for that one, didn't you? Told you I'm just a joker, didn't I?" He winked at Henry.
Henry managed a weak smile. "Yeah..." But doubt gnawed at him. The puzzle pieces weren't fitting together, and each new word from Felix added another edge to his unease.
Felix's voice softened, his gaze turning distant. "I've lived here longer than I care to count. I've seen things — things that don't belong in the light of day."
The path seemed to close in around them, shadows stretching and swallowing the last of the daylight.