The gate was now fully open, releasing a cold wind carrying the scent of mold and old blood. The darkness beyond seemed to move as though it were a living entity, faces forming and disappearing rapidly within it. The creatures that emerged from the gate slowly approached, their features unclear, but radiating pure hatred and malice.
"We have to run!" Amy screamed, gripping Ryan's arm.
But Ryan stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the darkness, as if something was pulling him toward it. "No... this isn't just darkness. It's... something else. Something that wants us to understand."
"Understand what?!" Mark shouted, trying to pull Ryan back. "This is a trap! We opened the gate and unleashed something we can't stop!"
Before any of them could move, one of the creatures stepped out of the gate. It resembled a shadow at first, but then began to take a more distinct form. It looked human, but its features were distorted, and its eyes glowed with a frightening red light.
"You..." the creature said in a deep voice, as though speaking directly into their minds. "You are the cause of all of this."
"What do you mean?!" Amy screamed, trying to control her fear.
"The gate was never just a key," the creature continued, getting closer. "It's a reflection of this place's truth. The forest isn't a normal place—it's a prison... a prison for the entity that rules here, and now you've set it free."
"But why us?!" Ryan asked angrily. "Why us?!"
"Because you are weaker than you think," the creature said with a sinister smile. "Fear, anger, despair... these are the true keys to the gate. The entity has been waiting for souls like yours, fueled by negative emotions."
The forest around them began to change. The trees grew taller and more twisted, the ground beneath their feet cracked and made eerie noises.
"We need to get out of here!" Mark yelled, looking desperately at Ryan and Amy.
"But where to?!" Amy asked, her eyes filled with hopelessness.
"Far away from this gate!" Ryan said, grabbing Amy's hand and pulling her.
The three of them started running, leaving the gate behind. The creatures didn't stop pursuing them, and the darkness stretched as though trying to swallow them. The trees blocked their way, but they pushed forward, avoiding the tangled branches and roots that tried to catch them.
"Mark! Which way?!" Amy shouted, feeling her breath growing shallow.
"Just keep running!" Mark shouted, trying to clear a path through the branches.
Suddenly, they saw a glimmer of light ahead. It was distant, but it seemed like the only hope in the midst of the darkness.
"There!" Ryan said, pointing toward the light.
They rushed toward it with all their strength, but the ground beneath them began to tremble violently, and roots suddenly shot up, wrapping around their feet.
"Watch out!" Mark shouted, struggling to free himself.
But the roots were too strong to be cut easily. Amy and Ryan barely managed to break free and continued running toward the light, but Mark wasn't as lucky. Thick roots surrounded his legs, and suddenly, they rose, pulling him backward.
"Mark!" Amy screamed, watching as her friend was dragged into the darkness.
"No! I won't leave him!" Ryan shouted, rushing toward Mark to help him.
"Go!" Mark cried out with a trembling voice, trying to free himself. "Save yourselves!"
But Ryan didn't listen. He tried to grab Mark's hand, but the roots were too strong, pulling him away quickly, and Mark disappeared into the shadows.
"Mark!" Amy cried, pulling Ryan away who resisted, his eyes filled with tears and rage.
"We can't save him now!" Amy shouted as she dragged him toward the light.
With great difficulty, they continued running, their hearts heavy with loss. When they finally reached the illuminated edge, they stepped out of the forest. The two of them stood there, gasping for air, tears streaming down their faces.
"They took him..." Ryan said in a soft voice, pointing back toward the forest.
They both looked back at the dark woods. They knew what had happened inside wasn't the end, but the beginning of something much larger.
"We'll go bac
k for him," Ryan said with determination. "No matter the cost."