The warning

The scream was gone.

But the fear it left behind had spread across the entire town.

Dark clouds still covered the sky, and a cold breeze swept through the streets of Blackwood Town. Police cars were parked near the forest entrance while reporters tried to gather information from frightened locals.

But no one had any answers.

The young woman who had disappeared the previous night was still missing.

No body.

No evidence.

Only a broken umbrella.

The words written on its handle had terrified everyone who saw them.

"You're Next."

A few miles away, life at Blackwood College looked almost normal.

Students hurried toward their classrooms with coffee cups in their hands, but there was only one topic on everyone's lips.

"Did you hear about the girl?"

"They say she disappeared near Blackwood Forest."

"My brother saw police cars all night."

"I heard she was dragged into the woods."

"I heard there was blood everywhere."

"No... they didn't even find a single drop."

Rumors spread faster than the truth.

Ethan Carter walked through the college gate with his backpack hanging from one shoulder. His headphones rested around his neck as he glanced at the groups of whispering students.

He sighed.

"People love making horror stories."

Just then, someone threw an arm around his shoulder.

"You still don't believe it?"

Ethan turned around.

Jake.

His best friend since childhood.

"I'm saying people disappear because of people," Ethan replied. "Not because of ghosts."

Jake raised an eyebrow.

"So you're telling me a woman vanished without leaving footprints?"

"There has to be a logical explanation."

Jake laughed.

"You always need proof."

"And you believe every ghost story your grandfather tells."

"I don't believe all of them..."

Jake's smile slowly faded.

"...but I believe this one."

They walked toward their classroom.

"What story?" Ethan asked.

Jake looked around to make sure nobody else was listening.

"My grandfather grew up here."

"So?"

"He always told me never to enter Blackwood Forest after sunset."

Ethan smirked.

"That's every old person's favorite warning."

Jake ignored the joke.

"He said if you ever hear someone calling your name from inside the forest..."

He stopped walking.

"...don't answer."

Ethan chuckled.

"And if I do?"

Jake looked him straight in the eyes.

"He said nobody who answered ever came back."

For the first time...

Ethan couldn't think of a reply.

Their first lecture ended around noon.

Instead of going to the cafeteria, Ethan headed toward the college library.

Jake followed.

"You seriously came here to study?"

"I'm looking for something."

"What?"

"Facts."

The library was almost empty.

Dust floated through the sunlight coming from the tall windows.

Old shelves stretched from floor to ceiling.

Near the history section sat an elderly librarian quietly reading a book.

Ethan searched through local history records.

Most books mentioned Blackwood Town.

Very few mentioned the forest.

Then he found an old newspaper bound inside a dusty file.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE NEAR BLACKWOOD FOREST.

Date:

Thirty-two years ago.

Another article.

THREE COLLEGE STUDENTS MISSING.

Another.

SEARCH OPERATION ENDS WITH NO CLUES.

Ethan's smile disappeared.

"This can't be..."

Jake leaned closer.

"How many?"

Ethan kept turning the pages.

Six disappearances.

Eleven.

Seventeen.

Some reports were over a hundred years old.

Every single case ended the same way.

Missing.

Never found.

A cold voice suddenly spoke behind them.

"You shouldn't read those."

Both boys turned.

The old librarian stood silently beside them.

His expression was unreadable.

"Why?" Ethan asked.

The old man slowly closed the newspaper.

"Because some stories..."

He looked toward the library window.

"...are better left buried."

Without another word, he walked away.

Jake swallowed nervously.

"Can we leave now?"

Ethan stared at the newspaper one last time.

Something didn't feel right.

Someone had torn out the very last page.

The page that probably contained the ending of the story.

That evening, Ethan reached home.

His grandmother sat quietly on the porch, knitting as always.

"You're late," she said with a gentle smile.

"College."

She nodded.

Then Ethan casually asked,

"Grandma... have you ever been to Blackwood Forest?"

The knitting needles stopped moving.

For a long moment...

She didn't say a word.

Her face slowly turned pale.

"Who told you that name?"

Ethan frowned.

"It was all over the news."

His grandmother stood up immediately.

"Listen to me carefully."

Her voice trembled.

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

"Why?"

She looked toward the dark trees visible far away.

Tears filled her eyes.

"Because some things..."

"...should never be awakened."

Before Ethan could ask another question...

She quietly walked inside the house.

Leaving him standing alone.

Confused.

Watching the forest in the distance.

And for just a second...

The shadow didn't move.

It simply stood there...

Watching him.

Then...

Ethan heard a whisper behind him.

"Ethan..."

He spun around.

No one.

When he looked back toward the forest...

The shadow was gone.

To be continued...