Chereads / The Mask That Always Smiles / Chapter 4 - Berghwoodna

Chapter 4 - Berghwoodna

On the outskirts of Berghwoodna lay Heart-ling Forest, a picturesque haven with a gothic undertone. With its abundant wildflowers and challenging terrain to traverse, along with the ever-present and never-fading mist, the forest exuded a captivating charm. The air in Heart-ling carried the fragrant scent of woodland lilies and other delicate aromas, creating a refreshing and invigorating atmosphere. What Heart-ling Forest was renowned for was the radiant tombstone that mysteriously glowed at night. The reason behind this captivating phenomenon remained a mystery.

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Several moons ago, Larisa and Nira found themselves lingering in the abandoned bathhouse of Heart-ling Forest, having been inhabitants of this forest for as long as they could remember, with no memories of a life before living there.. Larisa and Nira found themselves lingering in the abandoned bathhouse of Heart-ling Forest.

As the first rays of dawn streaked through the forest canopy, casting a golden glow, we awoke to the subtle rustling of twigs breaking in the distance. We both listened intently, certain that we heard rhythmic footsteps ahead.

"Sooooo, Nira. Are you finally going to try to turn away whatever is lurking, or at least make some friends?" Nira looked nervous and turned her head away.

"Remember how hilarious you found it when I scared away those teenage campers by making howling sounds? How did they act so macho and tough, only to run like scared little cats because of a little howl?"

Larisa looked at her phone, one of the few left behind by previous campers, which seemingly never ran out of power. We checked inside the battery slot and discovered it was powered by some sort of slime purchased from Berghwoodna. Initially, we thought somebody had just sneezed inside it.

"I feel like the protagonist! Hey, check out that eBunnee post! They say I am some sort of evil spirit that haunts dreams. And that hideous picture doesn't look remotely like me; it's just a creepy witch stock image." Nira briefly looked and gave a hint of a smile, then went back to hiding her head.

"This blog made me look scary, and I want to be loved like the other ghosts on eBunnee, not disliked. Making sounds and moving objects is just so we can communicate and make ourselves actually known... you know, like we actually exist in the world."

We heard more twigs breaking and the sudden sound of a bird flying away swiftly. This prompted Nira to quickly run and hide further back in the bathhouse.

"Nira, I don't understand why you're scared. You're not scared, are you? It's something else."