Chapter One

The storm raged through the sky, unleashing torrents of rain that drenched the ground. Lightning bolts crackled and thunder roared in the distance. There was an eerie sense of anticipation in the air, a mix of fear and excitement that perfectly suited Zoe's mood. Frightened, she moved closer to her boyfriend, Amos, seeking comfort and safety. With wide eyes, she looked up at her sister, fear evident in her gaze. Nestling closer to Amos, she couldn't help but let out a nervous chuckle at her own unease. "Don't worry, babe. I'll protect you," Amos reassured her, eliciting laughter from everyone. He had to admit she frightened easily but that was one of the many reasons he loved her so much.

Deep within the forest, Zoe sat cozily on Amos' lap, accompanied by her sister and their friends. As Aria stood, she started telling a story that had become a familiar tale, yet never failed to send shivers down Zoe's spine. "What was the man's name again, Aria?" Spencer eagerly asked Zoe's sister. Seated on a nearby log, her boyfriend Sawyer possessively wrapped his hand around her.

Aria sighed at Spencer's interruption, clearly displeased. "His name was Darius," she replied, pausing briefly before taking a deep breath and continuing her story. "Long ago, before any of us were born, a curse befell humanity. This curse was cast by the enigmatic gods that ruled over humans. Some believed these deities to be wicked, while others insisted they were kind. Yet, their true nature remained a mystery. Humans served and worshipped them, striving to fulfill their every desire. The gods loved their human subjects, each in their unique way, but humans desired more. They schemed and plotted in secret, yearning to surpass the gods' power."

"In the shadows, they whispered and conspired, believing they were untouchable. But they were wrong," Aria continued, her voice filled with a touch of foreboding. "The foolish ones who dared defy the gods were tortured and executed while the divine beings reveled in their power. It was during this time that a man named Darius decided to confront the gods."

Sawyer, sounding disinterested, asked, "Let me guess, this Darius guy, right?" Aria simply nodded, determined to finish her story. "He set out on a quest, searching far and wide until he stumbled upon a map. This map promised to lead him to the end of the gods' dominion. In anger, the gods laid a curse upon him," Aria explained.

Sawyer asked, "What kind of curse?"

Aria scolded him, annoyed by the interruption. "Stop interrupting, Sawyer," she exclaimed, though her irritation brought amusement to the group. Undeterred, Aria forged ahead, determined to complete her tale. "They couldn't prevent the man from finding the map, but they could hinder its use. Every time he attempted to follow the map, his world would reset. It took him a long time to understand the nature of this curse, but once he did, he tried to abandon his quest, thinking it would break the curse. Yet, his efforts were in vain. His world kept resetting, over and over again. Exhausted and defeated, he even tried to take his own life, but death eluded him. He neither aged nor died, wandering the earth endlessly, desperate for an end to his curse."

With a dramatic sigh, Aria concluded her story, satisfied by the fright she had instilled in her sister. Suddenly, a voice interrupted her thoughts. "Are you telling that story again, Aria?" Aria froze as Ryan's voice washed over her. She had specifically asked everyone not to invite him. It was clear who had ignored her request, and Aria thought of a thousand ways she could hurt her sister. "What are you doing here, Ryan?" Aria asked, her anger palpable.

Smiling mischievously, Ryan took a seat on a nearby log and ignored Aria's question. Her anger shifted, no longer directed at Ryan. No, now she was furious with her sister for inviting him. Zoe failed to grasp the complexities of her relationship with Ryan, unaware to the thorns hidden beneath the surface. Roses and peaches – did that even make sense? Shaking her head at her own thoughts, Aria mustered a smile as she turned to her sister. "Zo, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Aria led her sister away from the group, seeking privacy for their discussion. "What in the hell is wrong with you? Didn't you understand when I said I didn't want Ryan around?" Aria yelled, exasperation seeping into her voice. She had grown tired of her sister meddling in her life.

Apologetically, Zoe looked up at her sister with a mixture of guilt. "Look, I am sorry. I didn't think it would be such a big deal. He kind of overheard Amos and I talking, and it would have been really weird to tell him he was not invited". She paused her eyes searching for understanding. "I just wanted everyone to have a good time.

Aria just couldn't believe this. "Are you freaking kidding me? Would it have killed you to at least warn me he was coming?"

"If I would have told you, you wouldn't have showed up".

"Exactly". Aria was too angry to have this conversation right now. Her sister might have had good intentions but Aria felt disappointed in her for not informing her.

She sighed feeling the need for space to think and clear her mind, knowing she couldn't do it with Ryan hovering around, and so she strolled away. She headed back to the car, and as she did she heard her sister call after her. After a few moments Aria realized she was lost. Getting out of the forest would have been easy any other time, but the teens had delved further into the forest at Spencer's suggestion and now, Aria regretted that decision.

"Great. Just freaking great. I'm lost. Freaking lost in the woods". Aria shouted out "Damn you Spencer".

She tried retracing her steps, but Aria was even more lost. Aria's location was unawares to her, though she knew she was deeper into the woods.

Zoe stared after her sister's retreating back. She was sorry Ryan was here but there was nothing she could do about it now.

She walked back to the group and sat beside Amos again. Snuggling into him, she listened to Spencer's version of Darius's story. Although Spencer's version was different, the story still had a lot of similarities. She knew the tale very well.

Everyone in Truly town knew the tale. Some old folks in town believed it was real and that's what really scared Zoe. Although she had to confess, to recognized she scared easily. Everyone knew a different version. And that was the theme for their gathering.

"Hey Zo, where's Aria"? Ryan yelled to Zoe.

"She got mad you came. I think she went back".

"What? Why would you let her go home alone?" Spencer stared at Zoe angrily, waiting impatiently for an answer.

"She was mad at me. So, I thought she needed some alone time to cool off". Zoe defended, she didn't like everyone gaze on her, judging her.

Luckily for her, Amos came to her defense. "Chill guys. How about we head back and see if Aria's there. I am sure she's waiting by the car".

With mutual understanding and a little grumbling from Sawyer, everyone diligently gathered their things and headed to where their car was packed out of the woods. The walk was silent, everyone occupied with their own thoughts, but they soon realized they were moving in circle.

"Hey guys. Is it me or have we been walking for a very long time" Sawyer yelled to the group.

Agreeing with her boyfriend, Spencer said. "We should have reached by now".

"You don't think we are lost. Right?" Zoe called back.

"Did you guys here that?" Ryan whispered.

Zoe wasn't sure if he was trying to scare them, but if he was. She had to admit it was undeniably working. She was frightened something could be in the woods hunting after them.

"This isn't the time to joke around dude". Amos told Ryan.

"I am not joking around man. I swear I heard something".

Zoe moved closer to Amos, scared out of her mind.

Crack

Everyone stilled. They had all heard the sound.

"What was that?" Spencer whispered.

"Shut it" Ryan whispered back. He searched around, looking for something. Anything that could have caused that sound but his eyes fell on nothing. Suddenly, his eyes caught on something or someone, hidden behind one of the bushes. He moved closer, already recognizing the figure.

"Aria". He called out. He assumed she would have made it to the car but seeing her he realized his mistake.

"Guys, it's just Aria". He pointed to the bushes she was hiding behind. Not sure why she was hiding though,

"Ryan stop, that's not Aria".

He turned to Zoe, at her words. "What the hell do you mean by that's not Aria. Are you blind or don't you know your own damn sister again?"

"I don't know, it doesn't feel like Aria okay".

Ryan gave Zoe a crazy look, wondering if she had hit her head "Dude, I don't know what's wrong with you, but that definitely looks like Aria to me. She's my girlfriend after all".

"And she's my sister. Please come back. Trust me". Zoe said. She didn't understand it, but she could feel that wasn't her sister. She looked at everyone. Wishing someone would help her out but Sawyer and Amos just looked at her like she was irrational, while Spencer looked unsure.

"You're crazy, that's clearly Aria". Ryan simply said and then he closed the space between him and Aria.

As he did, a hand tapped Zoe's shoulder.

She turned and gasped.

Right before her was her sister.

"Oh my God guys. I got lost in this God forsaking woods. I told you we shouldn't go any deeper than we normally do" Aria yelled angrily. She was so tired from running, she didn't even realize everyone's eyes were on her.

Zoe took her eyes from her sister, looked to Ryan and the entity that looked like the same replica of her sister.

Ryan gasped as what once looked like Aria turned into an ugly creature. It grew twice its size, black as the night and with yellow soulless eyes he swore he could see death in them. It grabbed his hands and squeezed painfully. For a second he thought his hands was being reaped off, the pain was unimaginable. He tried pulling away but his strength failed him. He screamed for it to let him go, crying and pleading, something he never thought he would do.

The group stared in disbelief as the monster raised its lanky long nails and tore Ryan into pieces. Eating at him, like he was its last meal.

A scream was heard from Zoe, and the monster turned its yellow hunting eyes to her. Curving its neck, she swore she saw it smile. Aria didn't need anyone to tell her to run, but she knew her sister would stand there in fear.

Yelling to no one in particular, she screamed. "Don't just fucking stand their guys? Run".

No one needed to be told twice. Without a second thought. They all ran, fleeing from the scene.