Chapter 35: The Whispering Grove
The oppressive atmosphere of the forest lingered as Adam and Henry moved on, their nerves frayed from the encounter with the shadowy figure. The path ahead was faint, overgrown with vines and shrubs that snagged at their clothing. The faint chirping of birds returned, but the sense of being watched remained.
"Do you think that thing's still watching us?" Henry asked, his voice low.
Adam glanced over his shoulder, his eyes scanning the darkened woods. "Probably. But it seemed more interested in testing us than anything else."
Henry shook his head. "Great. Love being part of someone's twisted exam."
They trudged forward in silence until the trees opened into a smaller, eerily quiet grove. The clearing was unlike anything they had seen: trees with silver leaves surrounded a perfectly still pond, its surface reflecting the sky like a mirror. Strange whispers filled the air, too soft to make out any words.
Henry took a step forward, then hesitated. "This place... doesn't feel right."
Adam pulled out his phone.
"Psychic influence?" Adam muttered.
"Fantastic," Adam said, slipping the phone back into his pocket. "The pond might mess with our heads. Don't touch the water."
Henry rolled his eyes. "Because nothing in this forest can just be normal."
They began to circle the pond, keeping a safe distance. As they moved, the whispers grew louder, forming fragmented words that sent chills down Adam's spine.
"Lost... forgotten... betrayed..."
"Do you hear that?" Adam asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Henry nodded, his face pale. "Yeah. It's like they're speaking straight into my head."
Suddenly, the whispers stopped, replaced by a single, chilling voice. "Why have you come?"
Adam froze, his heart pounding. "We're just passing through," he said aloud, his voice trembling.
The voice chuckled, low and hollow. "Lies. None pass through the Whispering Grove without purpose."
Adam exchanged a nervous glance with Henry. "We're searching for answers," he admitted.
The pond's surface rippled, though there was no wind. "Answers come at a price," the voice said. "Will you pay it?"
Adam hesitated. "What kind of price?"
The voice didn't answer. Instead, the pond began to bubble, and a figure rose from its depths—a translucent, humanoid shape with glowing eyes.
Henry drew his sword. "I'm guessing this is where things go bad."
The figure raised a hand, and the whispers returned, louder and more insistent. Adam felt a wave of dizziness wash over him as images flashed in his mind: his childhood, his life before the forest, and strange scenes he didn't recognize.
"Adam, snap out of it!" Henry's voice cut through the haze.
Adam shook his head, focusing on the figure. He grabbed his phone.
"Light again," Adam said, fumbling for his flashlight.
He clicked it on, aiming the beam at the figure. The creature hissed, its form flickering like a dying flame.
"Keep it up!" Henry shouted, stepping closer with his torch.
Together, they advanced, their combined light forcing the figure back toward the pond. With a final, unearthly scream, it dissolved into the water, leaving the grove eerily silent once more.
The whispers had stopped, but the tension lingered as they hurried away from the grove.
"Remind me to avoid mysterious ponds in the future," Henry said, his voice shaky.
Adam managed a weak laugh. "Noted."
As they re-entered the denser forest, Adam consulted his phone.
"Already done," Adam muttered.
Henry glanced at him. "What's it saying now?"
"Just making sure we don't forget how much fun this was," Adam replied dryly.
Henry snorted. "Great. Because I'd hate to miss a repeat performance."
The two pressed on, the strange grove fading into the distance as the forest began to change again, its mysteries far from over.
End of Chapter 35