into the forest part 1 The decision

The next morning...

Ethan couldn't stop thinking about his grandmother's words.

"Never... ever... go into that forest."

Those words echoed in his mind throughout the night.

He barely slept.

Every time he closed his eyes...

He saw the same tall black figure standing silently between the trees.

Watching him.

Waiting.

The college campus was unusually quiet that morning.

Normally, students filled the hallways with laughter.

Today...

Everyone spoke in whispers.

The disappearance of the young woman had shaken the entire town.

Some students even refused to stay on campus after sunset.

Ethan walked into the classroom, still lost in thought.

Jake was already waiting.

"You look terrible."

"I didn't sleep."

Jake sighed.

"I told you... that forest gets inside your head."

Ethan forced a smile.

"I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"About why my grandmother was so scared."

Jake looked away.

"My grandfather was the same."

"He never explained anything."

"He just kept saying..."

"Stay away from Blackwood Forest."

Before Ethan could reply...

The classroom door opened.

Their history professor walked in.

His usual smile was gone.

Without saying a word...

He placed the morning newspaper on his desk.

The front page carried the same headline.

ANOTHER SEARCH... NO TRACE FOUND.

The room fell silent.

The professor looked at his students for a long moment before speaking.

"If any of you are thinking of visiting Blackwood Forest because of these rumors..."

He paused.

"...don't."

No one laughed.

No one even whispered.

For the first time...

Fear was visible on every face.

After a few moments, the professor quietly gathered his books.

"Class dismissed."

Nobody questioned him.

Everyone simply stood up and left.

Outside the college...

A cold breeze swept across the empty courtyard.

Jake stared at the newspaper still clutched in his hand.

"The police searched all night..."

"...and still found nothing."

Ethan nodded.

"They're missing something."

Jake looked toward the distant hills where Blackwood Forest stood in complete silence.

"What if..."

Ethan looked at him.

"What if what?"

Jake hesitated.

"What if the answers aren't in the town..."

"...but inside the forest?"

Ethan remained silent.

He remembered...

The shadow.

The torn newspaper page.

His grandmother's trembling voice.

None of it made sense.

Maybe...

The truth really was waiting inside those trees.

Jake took a deep breath.

"We go there."

Ethan looked toward Blackwood Forest.

Dark clouds gathered above it.

The forest looked... alive.

For a moment...

He almost said no.

Then he remembered the frightened look in his grandmother's eyes.

If everyone was hiding the truth...

Someone had to find it.

He slowly nodded.

"When?"

Jake gave a nervous smile.

"This evening."

The decision had been made.

Neither of them knew...

It would become the biggest mistake of their lives.

To be continued...