A cool mist hovered over the sleepy town of Ravensbrook, clinging to the ancient cobblestone streets like a secret never meant to be spoken. The town was nestled deep in the foothills of the Velmore Mountains, surrounded by towering pines and brooding skies. Though beautiful in its isolation, there was an unease that gripped the town's soul, a tension that even the quiet night could not mask.On nights like this, when the mist thickened, and the wind sang a mournful tune, the shadows stirred. No one spoke of it openly, but the whispers—the warnings—had persisted for centuries."Stay indoors after nightfall."
"Don't look into the woods for too long."
"Listen, but never answer the voice that calls your name."Of course, most passed these off as old wives' tales. But Evangeline "Eva" Carter had always sensed the truth buried within the town's fables. As she stood by her window, gazing out at the thick blanket of mist creeping over Ravensbrook, a familiar heaviness filled her chest.She couldn't sleep. Not tonight. Not after the dream.It was the same one she had been having for weeks now—an endless forest, towering black trees, and a faint voice whispering her name over and over, growing louder until it was all she could hear."Evangeline..."She closed her eyes, pressing her palms into the cool surface of the window, trying to ground herself in reality. But no matter how hard she tried, the feeling of being watched never left her. The air inside her small room felt thick, stifling, as though the shadows themselves were closing in.She turned abruptly, grabbing her woolen shawl from the chair. Maybe a walk would clear her mind, push away the remnants of the dream that clung to her thoughts like cobwebs. As she reached for the door, her hand hovered over the brass knob. A strange prickling sensation ran down her spine, a warning she had felt before.The whisper.It was faint at first, like the rustling of leaves in a far-off forest, but it grew louder."Evangeline..."Eva's heart skipped a beat. She looked over her shoulder at the empty room. The shadows seemed to pulse, as if alive, their edges curling and shifting. She shook her head, pulling the door open and stepping into the hallway. It was just a dream, she told herself. It had to be.As she descended the creaky staircase, the smell of burning wood and candle wax filled her nose. The inn was silent, save for the occasional groan of old timber. The innkeeper, old Mr. Thorne, had likely retired for the night, leaving the downstairs common area empty. Eva stepped outside into the night, her boots tapping lightly against the cobblestones. The mist embraced her instantly, cool and wet against her skin.She turned instinctively toward the woods that bordered the edge of Ravensbrook. Despite everything—despite the stories, the warnings, and the fear that had been instilled in her since childhood—she felt drawn to them.For as long as she could remember, the woods had been a forbidden place. Parents told their children not to wander too close, especially after dark. It wasn't just the forest's eerie quiet that kept people away; it was the stories of those who had ventured in and never returned. They called it the Hollowed Forest, a place where the veil between worlds was thin. Some believed the forest was alive, watching, waiting for those foolish enough to lose their way.Eva hesitated at the edge of the trees, her breath forming soft clouds in the cold air. She had only ever been this close once before, as a child. Her grandmother had pulled her back before she could take more than a few steps into the dark, whispering urgently about the dangers that lurked in the shadows.But tonight was different. The forest seemed to call to her, as though it had been waiting all along.Without another thought, she stepped forward, leaving the safety of the town behind.