The next morning, Maya stood at the edge of the Ashgrove woods, the fog curling like tendrils around the trees. She couldn't explain why, but something about the place had always unsettled her, as if the land itself was hiding something. But today, the feeling was stronger than ever.
She glanced over at Ethan, who was standing a few feet away, his eyes scanning the trees. He was the expert here, not her. Still, Maya couldn't shake the sense that they were being watched.
"You okay?" Ethan's voice broke through her thoughts.
Maya nodded, though she wasn't sure if she was convincing him or herself. "Just a little... jumpy, I guess."
Ethan gave her a sharp look. "It's the woods. They do that to people."
Maya exhaled slowly, forcing herself to focus. "What exactly are we looking for?"
Ethan pulled a map from his coat pocket and unfolded it. "There's a trail deeper in the woods. It's not marked on the usual maps, but I've heard rumors about it. People say it leads to an old clearing where... things happen."
"That's specific," Maya said dryly.
"Trust me, it's vague for a reason." Ethan pocketed the map and began walking toward the tree line. Maya followed him, keeping her eyes on the shadows that stretched beneath the towering branches.
They walked for what felt like hours, the quiet broken only by the crunch of their boots on the forest floor. Maya tried to keep her thoughts focused on the task at hand, but her mind kept drifting back to the scarf, the bloodstains, the symbols.
What did they mean?
And why did they keep leading her deeper into this nightmare?
Suddenly, Ethan stopped, holding up a hand. Maya froze, her pulse quickening.
"What is it?" she whispered.
Ethan didn't answer at first. He was staring ahead, his face pale. Then, he pointed to something in the distance, barely visible through the fog.
A clearing.
But there was something wrong about it. Maya couldn't put her finger on it, but her instincts screamed that they shouldn't go any further.
"We need to check it out," Ethan said, his voice low but urgent.
Maya swallowed, her throat dry. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears as they moved toward the clearing. The trees parted like a curtain as they stepped into the open space, and immediately, Maya felt the shift in the air. It was colder here, the fog thicker, pressing against her chest.
The clearing was empty, save for a large stone in the center. But it wasn't an ordinary stone. It was shaped into an intricate design—spirals, angles, symbols that looked eerily familiar.
Maya's heart skipped a beat. "The symbols... They're the same."
Ethan stepped closer to the stone, crouching to inspect it. "This is what I was afraid of."
"Afraid of?" Maya's stomach dropped. "What is this place?"
Ethan ran his fingers over the symbols, his brow furrowed. "This stone... it's a marker. A boundary." He stood up, brushing dirt off his hands. "Whoever—or whatever—left this here didn't want anyone crossing into this space. But it's not just a barrier. It's a warning."
"A warning about what?" Maya asked, stepping closer.
Ethan shook his head. "I don't know yet. But I have a feeling we're standing in the eye of whatever storm has been brewing in Ashgrove."
Maya looked around, her eyes darting nervously between the trees. The fog seemed thicker here, like a blanket covering them from the outside world. It was suffocating.
Before she could say anything, Ethan's phone buzzed. He pulled it out quickly, his face paling as he read the screen.
"It's Lauren," he muttered, tapping a response with shaking fingers.
Maya felt her pulse spike. "What did she say?"
Ethan's gaze flicked to her. "She wants to meet. Now. It's urgent."
Without another word, he turned and started walking back toward the woods' edge. Maya hesitated for a moment, looking back at the stone in the center of the clearing.
The weight of it pressed on her chest, like it was calling to her, urging her to stay. But she didn't.
She followed Ethan, her footsteps quickening as they retraced their path back through the trees. The fog seemed to follow them, clinging to their every step. Maya's thoughts raced as they walked.
What was Lauren going to tell them? And why was everything in Ashgrove leading them straight to the woods?
A chill ran down her spine as they emerged from the trees and headed toward the town. She couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't alone anymore.
As they reached the edge of town, Maya turned to Ethan. "Do you think... do you think whatever's out there is connected to the disappearances?"
Ethan's eyes darkened, and he didn't answer immediately. He seemed lost in thought, his gaze distant. "I'm not sure," he said finally. "But it's all connected, somehow. All the missing people... the symbols... the whispers in the fog. We're digging into something dangerous, Maya."
Maya met his gaze, her stomach twisting. "Dangerous how?"
He didn't reply, but the answer was clear in his eyes.
The deeper they went, the darker this mystery would become. And they weren't going to like what they found at the end.