Chapter I : The Lanterns in the Mist
The sun had barely dipped below the horizon when Leo and his four friends gathered at the edge of the “Choke.” They had spent the afternoon listening to two local hunters at the village square, who swore the forest moved and that a woman’s voice could be heard pleading for her life. To prove they weren’t cowards, the boys had each brought a heavy iron lantern, the flames flickering behind glass panes.
“We go in, we find the old hut, we prove it’s just the wind, and we come back,” Leo commanded, though his grip on his lantern was tight. As they stepped into the dense treeline, the forest seemed to swallow the light of their five lanterns. The further they went, the heavier the air became, smelling of damp earth and something sweet—like rotting fruit. Suddenly, a sound tore through the silence. It was a woman’s voice, sharp and agonizing. “Help me! Please, he’s coming!” The scream was so real it felt like a physical blow. Terrified, the boys didn’t wait a second longer. They turned and sprinted back toward the village, their lanterns swinging wildly in the dark, until they reached the safety of the main road, gasping for air.
