Dexter stopped, turning to Lucian with a grin that failed to mask his nervous excitement. "Ready?"
"Of course not," Lucian replied, his voice flat but tinged with reluctant amusement.
"Too bad," Dexter said, stepping forward. "Adventure waits for no one!"
The forest swallowed them whole.
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!"
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.