Chapter 73: Beyond the Veil of Darkness

The night was dark as Emma, Ethan and a small cluster of resolute young people came together on the forest's edge. Above them, the moon cast long shadows down toward them, carrying in its chill the weight of what was to come. "I still don't think this is such a good idea," he said in a low murmur, looking out at the dark treeline. "We don't know what's out there. We don't know what we're walking into." She closed her fist that had been clenching onto the map found on the old Blackwood estate, full of mysterious marks and signs summary of one place: the heart of the forest. And there, evil waited for every possible assumption. "We don't have a choice," Emma whispered, "as he grows in strength, and unless we stop him, Eldridge Falls won't survive." The rest around them nodded in agreement. Young, scared, yet more determined than terrified, joining on a whim after the strange disappearances-Marcus for one, and Lily, a young woman who lost her brother to the very same shadows that now haunted the town. Let's just get this over with," Marcus grumbled, adjusting the backpack on his shoulder. "The quicker we do this, the quicker we can end all this madness." Ethan cast a glance his way but didn't say anything. They had to be united. They needed to focus if they were going to make it through this. It was looming ahead now, dark and pointlessly threatening. The path was just about discernible under a heavy canopy of trees, and the slightest snapping of a twig or rustling of leaves in the wind made them jump. Lily was walking beside Emma; her face was pale but resolute. "Do you think this will work?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly. Emma smiled reassuringly, though she was quite certain of nothing. "It has to. This map leads us to something powerful. Something that can be the key to defeating the benefactor." Ethan, walking behind them, overheard and chimed in, "We have seen worse, right? We'll see this through. They pressed deeper into the forest, their steps muffled by the damp earth. And with every step, it seemed that the air grew colder, unnatural silence seeping from it. It was as if the forest were alive, watching them. "I don't like this," Marcus said. "Something's wrong.". She could sense it too with every step further into the woods, the air grew thick, as if the forest itself was warning them to go back. And yet, they pressed on, their route guided by the cryptic directions of the map. "Look!" Lily said suddenly, pointing ahead to a clearing. In the centre of the clearing stood an ancient stone altar, half-buried into the earth and covered in moss and vines. "That's it," Emma breathed, her heart bucking against her ribs. "That's where we have to go." The group faltered at the edge of the clearing. Something from the altar didn't feel quite right. Some sort of energy oozed from it that put all of the hairs on the back of Emma's neck standing on end. But they had come this far. There was no turning back now. It started shivering before them as if it had shaken. A low rumbling started coursing through the woods as the sky above them seemed to darken, though the moon was still in the sky. "What is happening?" Marcus asked, his voice filled with panic. No one had time to answer before the ground opened, quite literally, at the foot of the altar-a yawning chasm of darkness. A cold breeze blew from the opening, carrying upon its breath the faintest of whispers-voices too distant to make out yet too cold to ignore. "Stay close!" Ethan bellowed, grabbing Emma's arm, and tugging the group huddled together. Then, from that pit, a figure began, with extreme slowness, to rise out of the dark. It was shrouded in dark shadow; the face was not visible, though the presence suffocated. The mere existence of the figure seemed to heave off all the warmth from them, leaving them cold. "Who dares disturb my domain?" it low and seemed to vibrate through their bones. Emma stepped forward and took a great deep breath. "We're here to stop you," she quavered, but firmly, "You've been holding this town hostage for long enough, and it's gotta stop. We won't let you do that anymore.". The figure chuckled; the soft cold sound wrapped around Emma's skin and sent it crawling. "Foolish children," he hissed. "You think that you can stop the ancient power which has been rooted here for centuries? You are nothing but pawns in a much larger game." Ethan stepped up beside Emma, his jaw clenched. "We're not afraid of you. The dark figure of him seemed to shift, almost as if it had grown taller, more threatening. "You should be, " they said in a macabre tone. Suddenly, he flung his hand upwards, and the earth around them shook violently. Trees started to sway, and the wind picked up, howling through the clearing like a wild animal. The group stumbled, trying to keep their balance. We gotta do something!" Lily exclaimed, eyes wide, terrified. Emma fidgeted with the map, trying to make sense of the markings. "There must be a way to seal this place," she hurriedly murmured to herself, "something here can stop it. But this figure wasn't about to grant them time. With a wave of its hand, all the shadows around them suddenly came alive, forming dark, humanoid shapes in writhing motions. Fast-moving shadows began circling the group; their hollow eyes were aglow with some otherworldly light. "We're surrounded!" shouted Marcus, pulling out a small knife. In closer came the shadowy figures and Emma's heart was racing. Now they had to do something. "Ethan, look at the map there is a symbol here," placing her finger upon an odd design on the parchment. "It seems to be a key. Perhaps this is the key to stopping it." Ethan snatched the map from her and his eyes skidded over the symbol. "I think I can activate it," he said breathlessly. "But I'll have to reach the altar. You'll never make it!" Marcus yelled back, stumbling backwards from the oncoming shadows. "We have to try!" Emma yelled in return. Ethan sprinted for the altar, dodging the grasping hands of shadow figures as Emma and the rest fought them off. The relentless shadows were cold to the touch, sapping whatever strength whoever they touched did possess. Suddenly determined, Ethan leapt onto the altar. Slapping his hand down onto the surface, he pressed on the symbol etched into the stone. Nothing happened for a moment. Then the ground beneath them exploded in a flash of light. Screaming shadows were consumed in that brilliance, their outlines melting to mist. The figure in the pit roared furiously form-convulsing within the light. "You cannot stop me!" it bellowed in a voice that shook the air. But with the increase in brightness, the figure started to dissolve-the dark presence faltered. Once more the earth beneath them growled and the pit began its slow seal. "We're doing it!" Lily screamed, disbelieving. "We're stopping it!" The voice came a last time as if issuing from the pit that was sealing up finally, full of malice. "You may have delayed me… but the benefactor's plan is far from over. I will return." And with that said, the pit closed itself, the shadows disappeared, and the woods fell silent. They were standing, panting, their bodies shaking with adrenaline. They did it; they managed to stop whatever kind of ancient evil had lain at the heart of the forest. But deep inside, Emma knew this wasn't over. The benefactor was still out there, pulling the strings. And the worst was yet to come.