Chapter 34: Echoes in the Dark
The dawn brought little comfort. A pale, gray light filtered through the forest canopy, painting the clearing in cold hues. The air was damp and carried the faint scent of moss and decay. Adam sat by the window, staring out at the silent trees, his thoughts heavy with the events of the previous night.
Henry stirred, rubbing his eyes as he rose from the floor. "Morning already?" he mumbled, stretching until his joints cracked.
"Yeah," Adam replied, still watching the woods. "But it doesn't feel like it."
Henry glanced at the embers in the fireplace and then at Adam. "Something happen during your watch?"
Adam hesitated. "I saw a light. Looked like a lantern moving through the trees. It disappeared before I could figure out what it was."
Henry frowned, his expression sharpening. "Think it was one of the people from the market?"
"Maybe," Adam said. "But it didn't feel... normal."
As they packed up their gear, Adam consulted his phone again.
"Great," Adam muttered under his breath.
Henry raised an eyebrow. "What's the oracle telling you now?"
"It wants us to check out the light," Adam said, tucking the phone into his pocket.
"Of course it does," Henry said dryly. "Because why not walk straight into potential danger?"
Adam shrugged. "You'd rather leave it to surprise us later?"
Henry sighed. "Fair point. Let's get this over with."
They followed the direction of the light Adam had seen, moving cautiously through the dense forest. The path was uneven, roots and rocks threatening to trip them with every step. The morning air was filled with bird calls and the occasional rustle of small animals, but the tension in Adam's chest refused to ease.
After about an hour of walking, they came across a peculiar sight: a circle of stones arranged neatly in the middle of a small clearing. At the center of the circle was a pile of ash, as if a fire had burned there recently.
"What do you make of this?" Henry asked, crouching to examine the stones.
Adam pulled out his phone.
"Ritual site," Adam said. "Non-human energy. Whatever that means."
Henry stood up quickly, brushing his hands on his pants. "Non-human? Fantastic. Now we're dealing with ghosts or demons or something."
Adam chuckled nervously. "You don't actually believe in that stuff, do you?"
Henry gave him a look. "We're being hunted through a magical forest, and you're carrying around a talking brick from the future. At this point, I believe in everything."
They decided to keep moving, though the discovery left them both on edge. The forest seemed to grow darker as they went, the trees pressing closer together.
It wasn't long before they heard it: a faint, rhythmic tapping sound, like someone knocking on wood.
Henry froze, his hand on his sword. "You hear that?"
Adam nodded, pulling out his phone.
Adam gestured to Henry to stay quiet, and they crouched behind a large tree, waiting. The tapping grew louder, more insistent, before suddenly stopping.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Then, a low, guttural voice called out, "Who trespasses in the forest of shadows?"
Adam felt a chill run down his spine. He glanced at Henry, who looked equally unnerved.
Henry whispered, "What do we do?"
Adam frowned, considering his options. "Let's try diplomacy," he whispered to Henry.
Stepping out from behind the tree, Adam raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "We're just travelers passing through," he called out. "We mean no harm."
The forest was silent for a moment before the voice replied, "Travelers? Few dare to tread these woods without purpose. State your business."
Adam hesitated. "We're searching for answers. About the forest, and about the dangers we've been facing."
The voice let out a deep, rumbling laugh. "Answers? You seek answers in a place that only offers riddles. Bold, but foolish."
The trees seemed to shift, their shadows deepening. A figure emerged from the darkness, cloaked and hooded, its face obscured.
"Perhaps I shall grant you a clue," the figure said. "But only if you prove your worth."
Henry stepped forward, his hand on his sword. "And how do we do that?"
The figure raised a hand, and the shadows around them began to move, taking on strange, twisted shapes.
"Survive," it said.
The shadows lunged at them, and chaos erupted in the clearing. Adam and Henry fought side by side, slashing and dodging as the shadowy figures swarmed.
Adam pulled out his phone in the middle of the fight.
"Henry, light!" Adam shouted.
Henry grabbed a torch from his pack and lit it with a flint. The moment the flame roared to life, the shadow creatures recoiled, hissing.
Adam swung the torch wildly, driving the shadows back. The cloaked figure watched silently, its expression unreadable beneath the hood.
When the last of the shadows dissipated, the figure nodded. "Impressive. You may yet survive this forest. Continue your journey, but know this: the answers you seek will cost more than you are prepared to pay."
Before they could respond, the figure melted into the shadows, leaving them alone in the clearing.
Henry let out a breath, wiping sweat from his brow. "Next time, let's just take the long way around."
Adam managed a weak laugh. "Deal."
End of Chapter 34