Chapter 1: The End of Summer
The end of summer is sad for most people.
But to keep the sadness away, they celebrate — they throw parties, gather with friends, go to concerts, or attend some kind of event with people they trust.
Not Nolan, though.
The only thing he knew was that he had to endure another year of school.
The only thing that gave him peace were his long walks and his habit of sneaking into abandoned buildings to paint with sprays.
But, unfortunately, because of his fearful nature, he never managed to finish a single piece — he got scared even by the tiniest sound.
On the day before school started, he decided to go for a walk — something that had become his own little tradition, a way to distract himself from the sadness of summer’s end.
As he passed by the forest, an idea struck him: what if he went in?
Even though he was afraid — and this forest was one of the largest in the country — he couldn’t shake the thought. The rumors about it weren’t few either.
They said it was a haunted forest, the kind that even paranormal hunters avoided at all costs.
But Nolan wanted to overcome his fear.
Clenching his teeth, he stepped onto the old path — now almost completely swallowed by nature.
Each step was heavy, trembling with anxiety.
He kept repeating to himself that there was nothing in the forest, that nothing would happen.
As he walked deeper, something strange happened — he started to feel calm.
The chirping of birds, the sea of trees, the rustle of leaves in the wind — it all felt like home, as if all his worries had simply disappeared.
Looking around, he noticed a fallen tree trunk, perfectly cut flat — as if someone had placed it there just for him.
He sat down, put on his headphones, and played his music.
For a while, he was at peace.
Then, a tap on his shoulder.
He jumped in terror, his heart pounding like crazy.
“Hey, kid, no need to be scared,” said a stranger with a friendly smile. “I’m just an old woodcutter.”
Nolan calmed down a little and shifted over to make room for the man.
“You don’t look that old,” he said cautiously.
The man chuckled. “You flatter me. Maybe I look young, but trust me — I’m quite old.”
“Why do you do this job? Isn’t it lonely out here? Aren’t you scared?” Nolan asked.
“I used to be,” the woodcutter said. “But now I find it peaceful. And if I don’t do it, there’s no one left to protect the forest.”
“Protect it? So you’re like… a forest ranger?”
“You could say that,” the man smiled. “But I prefer ‘woodcutter’. I don’t think most rangers walk around with an axe and a gas lantern.”
“I’ve always wanted to cut down a tree,” Nolan admitted. “It sounds fun… looks cool, too.”
The man grinned. “It’s hard work. But if you want, I can show you how. You can cut your first tree today.”
Nolan’s face lit up. He jumped to his feet, and together they followed a small path deeper into the forest, talking about everything on the way.
“Do your parents know you’re out here?” the woodcutter asked.
“They don’t come home often,” Nolan said softly. “And… I don’t have any friends. So, no one really cares.”
The woodcutter looked at him with a sad smile. “Then I’ll be your friend. I don’t have any either. We’ll be the Lonely Club.”
Nolan laughed, then stopped and offered his hand. The man shook it firmly, and they continued walking.
“There it is,” the woodcutter finally said, pointing toward a half-dead tree.
“You think I can cut that?” Nolan asked, a bit unsure.
“Of course. It’s dry already. I’ll show you how.”
After a few minutes of struggle, sweat, and effort, the tree finally fell with a loud crack.
“Hey, look! I did it!” Nolan shouted, smiling. “It’s way harder than I thought.”
The woodcutter laughed. “You did well, kid. But I should get going now. Still… if you ever want to stop by, feel free. Even the beauty of this forest can’t always keep the loneliness away.”
Nolan nodded, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and started back.
For the first time, he felt like he had a friend — something he probably should have felt long ago, now that he was sixteen.
When he got home, he opened the door to find a note waiting on the counter:
“There’s food in the fridge. Heat it up and eat.
We’ll be back next week. — Mom.”
Nolan wasn’t surprised. He was used to the emptiness of the house.
But this time, it didn’t bother him.
He just dropped onto his bed with a smile — and fell asleep.
In the following days, Nolan kept visiting the forest, spending hours with his new friend.
But everything good must end.
On the day before school began, he decided to go again — just to sketch the scenery a little.
The day was gloomy, the sky heavy and gray. The forest felt quieter than usual.
He sat on the same stump as always and began to draw.
After a while, he heard something behind him.
He turned slightly — there was movement in the bushes.
Curious, he stood up and walked closer.
As he approached, the shape became clearer… until he saw it fully.
A tall, dark figure — wearing the skull of a deer as a mask.
Without thinking, Nolan ran.
But he wasn’t fast enough.
The creature lunged, landing right on top of him. It seemed almost amused, towering over him like a hunter playing with its prey.
Then, out of nowhere — a flash, a powerful swing.
The monster was thrown aside.
A hand reached out toward Nolan.
It was the woodcutter.
“You okay, kid?” he asked.
Nolan nodded weakly and grabbed his hand. The man pulled him up and stood protectively in front of him, lifting his axe.
The creature roared and charged again.
The woodcutter blocked the strike and sliced its arm clean off.
For a second, it looked vulnerable — and the woodcutter struck again.
But that was exactly what the creature had waited for.
It dodged, spun, and drove its claws straight into Nolan.
He fell, gasping for air.
The woodcutter rushed to his side, pressing on the wound — but it was no use.
Nolan was dying.
As his vision faded, he heard the last words of the woodcutter, quiet and trembling:
“I’m sorry… this is the only way.”
