The darkness of the woods stretched ahead, unyielding and eerie. Garnet looked at Lessie expectantly, waiting for her to explain. She seemed tense, her breaths shallow and quick as if she'd been running for her life.
Garnet: "You've got plenty of time to tell me what's going on."
Lessie (shaking her head): "No, I don't. They're behind me."
Garnet frowned, his voice low with concern.
Garnet: "Who's behind you?"
Lessie hesitated, then whispered the answer.
Lessie: "My mom and dad."
Garnet's eyes widened in disbelief.
Garnet: "What? Why? What happened?"
Lessie: "They woke up when I was sneaking out. I don't know how—they were supposed to be asleep. But they caught me."
Garnet: "Did they follow you?"
Lessie: "Yes, I think they did at first. But I ran as fast as I could. I think I lost them, but I'm not sure."
She looked over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the darkness as if expecting her parents to appear any second.
Lessie: "We can't stay here. We need to move, Garnet. I'll explain everything later."
Garnet (nodding): "Okay, let's move on."
Lessie: "Let's go. And Garnet…"
Garnet: "Yeah?"
Lessie: "Are you scared?"
Garnet hesitated, then shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Garnet: "A little. Everyone's scared of the unknown—the places they need to go but can't see. And death… well, no one really wants to face that, do they? Everyone dreams of living forever."
Lessie: "Yeah, well, we might not have forever if we don't hurry. Now stop talking and walk faster before they find us."
Garnet (grinning): "Yup, let's go."
The pair stepped deeper into the woods. The thick canopy of trees blotted out the sky, making it hard to tell how much time had passed. The cries of birds echoed through the air, sharp and haunting. An owl perched on a branch above them, its wide eyes staring down as if it were watching their every move.
Lessie shivered. She tried to stay calm, but every sound, every rustle of leaves sent her heart racing. Garnet, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying himself.
Garnet (grinning): "Hey, Lessie, do you think that owl's judging us? Maybe it's the king of the forest, sitting there like, 'What are these two doing here?'"
Lessie shot him a glare, her patience wearing thin.
Garnet (chuckling): "Oh, come on! Lighten up. These woods might be creepy, but they're not—"
Lessie (snapping): "Garnet, stop! The woods are not a place to joke."
Her voice echoed, sharp and frustrated, cutting through the stillness. Garnet immediately fell silent, his grin fading.
Garnet (apologetically): "Sorry, Frauen. Don't get mad."
Lessie huffed but didn't say anything. The tension eased slightly as they continued their journey.
They walked for what felt like hours, the forest growing darker and more oppressive with each step. The air was thick and still, as though the woods themselves were holding their breath. Lessie glanced at the horizon, expecting to see the faint glow of dawn, but the sky remained shrouded in darkness.
Lessie (whispering): "Why isn't the sun coming up? It feels like we've been walking forever."
Garnet didn't answer. He was staring at the ground ahead, his expression suddenly serious. Lessie followed his gaze and froze.
The ground beneath them gave way, and before either of them could react, they were falling.
The fall felt endless, their screams swallowed by the void. When they finally hit the ground, it was with a dull thud, the air knocked out of their lungs. For a moment, neither of them moved, the shock of the fall keeping them frozen.
Garnet (gasping): "Are you okay, Lessie?"
Lessie (sitting up): "Yeah… yeah, I'm okay. What about you?"
Garnet: "I think I'm good. Just a bit sore."
They looked around, their eyes adjusting to the dim light. The space they had fallen into wasn't just a hole—it was a massive underground tunnel, its walls lined with strange markings that seemed to glow faintly.
Lessie (nervously): "Where are we?"
Garnet pulled out the book he'd been carrying and flipped through the pages. His brow furrowed as he read.
Garnet: "According to this, we're in… the Devil's Tunnel."
Lessie's heart sank.
Lessie: "The Devil's Tunnel? That doesn't sound good, Garnet."
Garnet: "Yeah, it's definitely not. The book says this place is filled with traps and illusions. It's supposed to test anyone who enters."
Lessie: "I'm not feeling good about this."
Garnet: "Neither am I. But we don't have a choice. We need to keep moving."
Before they could take another step, the ground beneath them shimmered, and a strange sensation washed over them. In an instant, the tunnel disappeared, and they found themselves standing in front of a house.
Lessie looked down at herself and gasped. Her clothes had changed. She was wearing a sleek, elegant outfit that looked like it belonged to another era. Garnet's outfit had also changed, his new attire sharp and sophisticated.
Garnet (grinning): "You look good, Lessie."
Lessie (distracted): "Thanks… but how did this happen?"
Garnet (shrugging): "I don't know. It wasn't in the book. But there was something about strange occurrences in the tunnel."
Lessie: "Well, this definitely counts as strange. What now?"
They turned to face the house. It was large and imposing, its windows dark and unwelcoming. A faint light flickered inside, casting eerie shadows.
Lessie (hesitating): "Should we go in?"
Garnet: "We've come this far. Let's knock."
They stepped up to the door, their hearts pounding. Garnet raised his hand and knocked. The sound echoed loudly, cutting through the silence.
They waited.
And waited.
To be continued in the next chapter.