Hiding in the Dark

The air was thick with tension as Garnetta and Raphael made their way back toward the town. The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting an orange glow over the landscape, but the warmth it once promised was now only a memory. The cold presence of the dark power Garnetta had absorbed clung to her, a reminder of the battle that was far from over.

They walked in silence, the events of the day weighing heavily on their minds. Garnetta could still feel the energy pulsing within her, the strength she had siphoned from the dark mist. It was intoxicating, a raw, unbridled power that made her feel invincible. But beneath that power, she could also sense the darkness, a malevolent force that whispered to her, urging her to use it.

She glanced at Raphael, who was walking slightly ahead, his posture tense and alert. He had always been her protector, her mentor, but now she felt the need to protect him as well. The power within her was both a gift and a curse, and she couldn't let it consume her—or him.

As they neared the outskirts of the town, Garnetta suddenly stopped, her senses tingling with a familiar presence. She closed her eyes, focusing on the sensation, and within moments she recognized it—the feeling of life, pulsing and vibrant, somewhere nearby.

"Raphael," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "There's someone here."

Raphael stopped and turned to her, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. "Who is it, ma chérie?"

Garnetta reached out with her mind, letting the tendrils of her briar roses extend beneath the ground, searching for the source of the life force she had sensed. The vines moved silently, slipping through the earth like serpents, until they found what she was looking for—a heart, beating steadily, hidden within the shadows of a nearby building.

She opened her eyes, focusing on the direction of the presence. "It's just up ahead, in that building," she said quietly, pointing toward a small, dilapidated structure near the edge of the town.

Raphael's eyes followed her gesture, his expression hardening. "Stay behind me," he said firmly, moving toward the building with deliberate steps.

Garnetta hesitated for a moment, the urge to protect him warring with her instinct to follow his lead. But she knew Raphael was right—she needed to be cautious. She let him take the lead, but kept her senses sharp, ready to unleash her power if necessary.

As they approached the building, the presence became clearer, the life force strong and steady, but tinged with fear. Garnetta could feel the person's anxiety, their breath coming in short, shallow gasps as they remained hidden in the shadows.

Raphael reached the door first, pushing it open with a creak. The interior was dimly lit, the only light coming from a small window high on the wall. Dust motes floated in the air, disturbed by their entrance, and the scent of old wood and mildew filled their nostrils.

Garnetta could see the figure now, huddled in the corner, trying to make themselves as small as possible. It was a young man, his clothes tattered and dirty, his eyes wide with fear as he stared at them. He was trembling, his hands clutching something close to his chest—a small, worn book.

"Please," the young man whispered, his voice shaking. "Please don't hurt me."

Raphael held up his hands in a gesture of peace, his voice calm and soothing. "We're not here to hurt you. We just want to know what you're doing here."

The young man hesitated, his eyes flicking between Raphael and Garnetta. "I... I was hiding," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I saw something in the woods—something dark. I ran, but it followed me. I thought it was going to kill me."

Garnetta felt a pang of sympathy for the man. She knew exactly what he had encountered—the same dark mist that had pursued them through the woods. But there was something else, something about the way he clutched the book to his chest, that caught her attention.

"What's in the book?" she asked, her voice soft but firm.

The young man hesitated, his grip tightening on the book. "It's... it's just an old journal," he said, his voice trembling. "I found it in the town archives. It talks about the woods, about the things that live there. I thought it might help me understand what's happening."

Garnetta exchanged a glance with Raphael, who nodded slightly. They needed to see what was in that journal—it might hold the answers they were looking for.

"Can we see it?" Garnetta asked gently, stepping closer to the young man.

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes filled with uncertainty, but then slowly, he nodded and handed the book to her. Garnetta took it carefully, the worn leather cover rough against her fingertips.

As she opened the book, the pages crackled softly, the aged paper brittle and yellowed with time. The handwriting was neat but faded, the ink smudged in places, but the words were still legible. Garnetta's eyes skimmed the first few lines, her heart pounding as she read the description of the symbols they had seen in the woods, the same ones that had appeared in the fort.

"This talks about the symbols," she murmured, her voice filled with a mixture of dread and curiosity. "It says they're markers, meant to keep people away from something buried deep in the forest—something ancient and powerful."

Raphael moved closer, his eyes narrowing as he read over her shoulder. "Does it say what that something is?"

Garnetta flipped through the pages, searching for more information. The entries became more frantic as they went on, the handwriting growing sloppier, the words more desperate.

"It's... it's a warning," she said, her voice trembling. "Whoever wrote this journal knew something was wrong. They talk about dark rituals, sacrifices made to keep whatever is buried there asleep. But..."

She paused, her breath catching in her throat as she read the final entry. "But something went wrong. The last entry says that the rituals failed, and whatever was buried there is waking up. It's angry, and it's looking for revenge."

The young man's face paled at her words, his eyes wide with fear. "Is that what followed me? Is that what's out there?"

Garnetta looked up at him, her expression grim. "Yes. And it's not just after you—it's after anyone who disturbs its resting place."

Raphael placed a comforting hand on Garnetta's shoulder, his voice filled with quiet determination. "We'll figure this out, ma chérie. We'll find a way to stop it."

Garnetta nodded, though the weight of the journal in her hands felt heavier than ever. They had uncovered part of the mystery, but the real challenge was still ahead of them. The dark power they had encountered was ancient and powerful, and it wouldn't rest until it had what it wanted.

As they left the building, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world into shadow. The young man followed them, his steps hesitant and unsure. Garnetta could feel his fear, his uncertainty, but also his determination to survive.

They were all in this together now, bound by the darkness that had been unleashed. And as they walked through the gathering gloom, Garnetta couldn't shake the feeling that the storm was only just beginning.