Story 205: The Hollow Path

Damien Rook had seen his share of horrors, but nothing could have prepared him for the Hollow Path. The dense fog clung to the ground like a living thing, swirling around his feet as he ventured deeper into the cursed woods. Lena walked beside him, silent but alert, her eyes scanning the shadows. Ever since they left Fort Shadowmarch, the pull of something darker had been guiding them east.

“There’s something wrong here,” Lena whispered, her breath visible in the icy air. “The land… it’s not natural.”

Damien nodded but kept his focus on the trail ahead. Every step felt heavier, like the earth itself was dragging them down. The trees around them were twisted and gnarled, their branches reaching out like skeletal hands. The Hollow Path had a reputation, even among the survivors. No one who entered had ever come out alive.

“Stay close,” Damien muttered, his revolver ready.