Lucian hesitated for a moment, his instincts screaming at him to turn back. This doesn't feel right. But if I leave Dexter alone, he'll get himself killed. Guess I have no choice. Reluctantly, he followed.
The glow grew brighter with each step, leading them to a clearing. There, under the open sky, stood a serene, glowing pond. The water shimmered faintly, reflecting the moonlight in rippling waves of pale blue. Unlike the oppressive darkness of the forest, the clearing felt strangely tranquil, as if untouched by the world beyond.
"No way…" Dexter whispered, switching off his flashlight to take in the sight.
Lucian looked around uneasily. The ground was smooth and untouched, the glow of the pond casting faint, flickering shadows against the towering hill behind it. The scene felt too perfect, too still. This isn't just nature. This place is… unnatural.
"Luca, look!" Dexter's voice broke through his thoughts.
Lucian turned to where Dexter was pointing and froze.
A girl sat on a rock near the edge of the pond. Her long, dark hair fell in silky waves down her back, her pale skin glowing faintly in the eerie light. She looked their age, her delicate features framed by the shimmering glow of the pond. But her eyes… her deep, unblinking eyes were locked on the stars above, distant and unreadable.
For a moment, Lucian couldn't move. The beauty of the scene held him captive, yet something about it felt wrong—like a painting too perfect to be real. The air around her seemed heavier, colder, and the faint hum of the pond's glow dimmed near her.