Under the canopy, darkness wrapped around them like a suffocating shroud. Their flashlights cast feeble beams, barely enough to light their path. The silence was eerie—no rustling leaves, no distant animal calls. It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
Lucian's mind wandered as they trudged forward. This place feels wrong. Like it's alive. The stories the keepers told us, about kids disappearing and strange sounds in the night… maybe they weren't just stories. He glanced at Dexter, who was leading the way with his usual enthusiasm. How can he be so fearless? Or is he just too stubborn to notice how close we are to getting killed?
Lucian clenched his fists, forcing himself to keep moving. If this turns out to be a bust, fine. At least I'll have seen something new for once. And if the forest swallows us whole… well, at least it'll be different from the orphanage. That's something.
The red tape was their lifeline, guiding them back through the forest. After a few minutes of walking, Dexter suddenly stopped, his voice breaking the silence.
"Woah! What's that glow over there?!" he exclaimed, pointing toward a pale blue light flickering in the distance.
Lucian, startled, jumped in his place and followed Dexter's gaze. A faint, otherworldly glow lit the darkness ahead. That wasn't there before. There's no way we missed something that bright when we came through this part.
Dexter grabbed Lucian's arm, dragging him toward the glow. "Come on, Luca! This is what we've been looking for!"