Marking

The forest was alive with the sounds of the night as Garnetta and Raphael made their way back to the fort. The distant hoot of an owl echoed through the trees, accompanied by the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. The tension that had settled over them during their encounter with the hunter lingered, making every shadow seem more menacing, every noise a potential threat.

As they approached the fort, Garnetta couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. It was a sensation that had started as a faint tingle at the back of her mind, but it had grown stronger with each passing moment. She glanced at Raphael, who seemed equally alert, his eyes scanning the darkness around them.

"Do you sense it too?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Raphael nodded, his expression grim. "Yes, ma petite. We're not alone out here."

They quickened their pace, moving swiftly through the trees until the outline of the fort came into view. The sight of its tall, sturdy walls brought a brief sense of relief, but it was quickly overshadowed by the realization that the fort might not be as secure as they had hoped.

As they reached the gate, Raphael motioned for Garnetta to stop. He listened intently, his head cocked slightly to one side, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the sounds coming from within the fort. For a moment, there was nothing but the usual nighttime sounds of the forest. Then, faint but unmistakable, Garnetta heard it too—a low, almost imperceptible hum, like the distant buzz of electricity.

"What is that?" Garnetta asked, her voice tense.

"I'm not sure," Raphael replied, his tone laced with caution. "But we need to find out."

They slipped through the gate, moving silently as they made their way toward the source of the sound. The interior of the fort was dark, the only light coming from the sliver of moonlight that managed to penetrate the canopy above. Garnetta's senses were on high alert, every nerve in her body attuned to the slightest movement.

As they neared the center of the fort, the sound grew louder, taking on a rhythmic, pulsing quality that set Garnetta's teeth on edge. It was unlike anything she had ever heard before, and it filled her with a deep sense of unease.

Finally, they reached the source of the noise—a small, abandoned building near the edge of the fort. The structure was old and decrepit, its walls covered in ivy and its roof partially collapsed. But it was from within this building that the strange sound emanated.

Raphael placed a hand on Garnetta's shoulder, his touch gentle but firm. "Stay close, ma chérie," he whispered. "We don't know what we're dealing with."

Garnetta nodded, her heart pounding in her chest as they approached the building. The air around them seemed to grow colder, the temperature dropping as they drew nearer. The feeling of being watched intensified, and Garnetta had to suppress the urge to turn and flee.

Raphael pushed open the door, the hinges creaking loudly in the silence. Inside, the building was dark and filled with shadows, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon outside. The sound was louder now, a pulsing, rhythmic thrum that seemed to vibrate through the very walls of the structure.

As they stepped inside, Garnetta's eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, and she could make out the outlines of the room. It was empty, save for a few pieces of broken furniture and scattered debris. But in the center of the room, something caught her eye—a faint, glowing symbol etched into the floor.

"What is that?" Garnetta asked, her voice barely audible.

Raphael crouched down, studying the symbol with a frown. "It's some kind of marking," he said, his voice filled with concern. "But I've never seen anything like it before."

The symbol was circular, with intricate lines and patterns radiating outward from the center. It glowed with an eerie, pale light, pulsing in time with the rhythmic hum that filled the room. Garnetta could feel the energy emanating from it, a cold, unnatural force that sent a shiver down her spine.

"This isn't good," Raphael muttered, his brow furrowing as he reached out to touch the symbol.

Before he could make contact, the light from the symbol flared, filling the room with a blinding white light. Garnetta instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes, but the light was so intense that it seemed to burn through her skin. She felt a sharp pain in her chest, as if something was being torn from within her, and she cried out in agony.

Raphael's voice echoed in her ears, but she couldn't make out the words. The pain intensified, spreading through her body like wildfire, until she felt as though she was being consumed by it. The world around her seemed to blur and twist, the edges of her vision darkening as the light grew brighter and more intense.

Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the light vanished, leaving Garnetta gasping for breath in the darkness. She collapsed to the floor, her body trembling with the aftershocks of the pain. Raphael was at her side in an instant, his hands gentle but firm as he helped her sit up.

"Ma chérie, are you all right?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Garnetta nodded weakly, though she wasn't sure she was. The pain had subsided, but a lingering sense of dread remained, gnawing at the edges of her consciousness. She looked down at the floor, expecting to see the symbol still glowing, but it was gone, as if it had never been there.

"What happened?" Garnetta asked, her voice shaky.

"I don't know," Raphael admitted, his expression troubled. "But whatever it was, it wasn't natural. We need to leave this place, ma petite. Now."

Garnetta didn't need to be told twice. She struggled to her feet, leaning on Raphael for support as they made their way out of the building. The air outside was cold and fresh, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere within the structure. Garnetta took a deep breath, trying to steady herself as they headed back toward the main part of the fort.

As they walked, Garnetta couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. The fort, which had once felt like a sanctuary, now felt like a trap, a place filled with unseen dangers. The memory of the pain, the blinding light, and the strange symbol etched into the floor haunted her, filling her with a sense of foreboding that she couldn't ignore.

"We need to figure out what's happening here," Garnetta said quietly, her voice filled with determination. "We can't stay in this place if it's going to turn on us."

Raphael nodded, his expression grim. "We'll figure it out, mon ange. But first, we need to make sure you're all right. That light... whatever it was, it wasn't normal."

Garnetta nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. The fort, the strange lights in the woods, the mysterious symbol—they were all connected, she was sure of it. But what did it all mean? And more importantly, how could they protect themselves from whatever forces were at work in this place?

As they reached the safety of their living quarters, Garnetta felt a renewed sense of resolve. They had faced countless dangers together, and they would face this one too. But first, they needed answers. And Garnetta was determined to find them, no matter what it took.