Chapter 4 THE LOST

Chapter 3 - The Lost

Kate's flashlight beam sliced through the darkness, her heart pounding in her chest. "Ryan!" she shouted, but only the wind replied.

She sprinted forward, her training kicking in. Ryan's last location pinged on her phone's GPS.

As she closed in, Kate spotted Ryan's flashlight on the ground, spinning lazily.

"Ryan!" Kate dropped to her knees beside him.

Ryan groggily opened his eyes. "Kate... I saw her... the woman."

Kate helped Ryan sit up. "What happened?"

Ryan rubbed his head. "She led me here... then vanished."

Kate scanned their surroundings. They were in a clearing, surrounded by ancient trees.

Suddenly, symbols etched into the trunks flared to life.

"The Black Oak," Ryan whispered.

Kate's grip on her gun tightened. "We need to get out of here."

But it was too late. The symbols began to pulse, darkness swirling around them.

"Kate..." Ryan's voice trailed off.

Kate turned to Ryan, but he was gone.

"Ryan!" Kate screamed.

Only echoes replied.

Kate stood alone, the symbols burning brighter.

The shadows closed in.

Kate frantically searched for Ryan, but he had vanished into thin air.

"Ryan!" she shouted, her voice hoarse from screaming.

The symbols on the trees pulsed faster, the darkness deepening.

Kate's phone buzzed, a text from an unknown number:

"Look for the doorway in the shadows."

Kate's eyes scanned the clearing, and she spotted a faint outline etched into the darkness.

A doorway.

Kate approached the doorway, her heart racing.

As she stepped through, the symbols on the trees flared, and the doorway vanished behind her.

Kate found herself in a labyrinthine corridor, the walls lined with ancient carvings.

The air reeked of decay, and Kate's skin crawled.

"Ryan?" she called out, her voice echoing off the stone.

No response.

Kate drew her gun, navigating the twisting corridors.

She stumbled upon a chamber filled with candles, their flames casting eerie shadows.

In the center, a figure sat in a chair, hooded and motionless.

"Ryan?" Kate whispered, approaching cautiously.

The figure slowly raised its head.

Kate's heart sank.

It wasn't Ryan.

The figure's face was twisted, its eyes black as coal.

"Welcome, Kate," it said in a voice that sent shivers down her spine.

"You're one of us now."

Kate's grip on her gun tightened.

"I'll never be one of you."

The figure chuckled, its eyes glinting with malevolence.

"We'll see about that."

Suddenly, the candles flickered, and the chamber plunged into darkness.

Kate was alone, surrounded by the shadows.

Kate's eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness. She heard footsteps echoing through the chamber, growing fainter.

"Hello?" Kate called out, her voice barely above a whisper.

No response.

Kate moved cautiously, gun raised, trying to reorient herself.

Suddenly, a match flared to life, casting flickering shadows.

The hooded figure stood before her, its face still obscured.

"You're searching for Ryan," it stated, its voice low and gravelly.

Kate's grip on her gun tightened. "Where is he?"

The figure gestured to a doorway behind Kate.

"Follow the shadows," it said, its voice dripping with malice.

Kate hesitated, unsure if she should trust this mysterious figure.

But she had no choice.

She had to find Ryan.

Kate turned toward the doorway, her heart pounding.

As she stepped through, the match extinguished, plunging her into darkness.

Kate stumbled forward, her hands outstretched.

Suddenly, a faint light appeared in the distance.

"Ryan?" Kate called out, hope rising.

The light grew brighter, illuminating a room filled with ancient artifacts.

Ryan sat in the center, his eyes vacant.

"Ryan!" Kate rushed to his side.

But as she touched his shoulder, Ryan's eyes snapped open.

And Kate saw something that made her blood run cold.

Ryan's eyes were black as coal.

"Kate," Ryan whispered, his voice no longer his own.

"I've been waiting."

Kate's world crumbled as she stared into Ryan's black eyes.

"Ryan, snap out of it!" Kate pleaded, shaking him.

Ryan's response sent chills down Kate's spine:

"I am the shadow, Kate. And you will join me."

Kate's mind reeled. What had happened to Ryan?

She grabbed Ryan's arms, attempting to pull him up.

But Ryan didn't budge.

"Kate, you can't save me," Ryan whispered, his voice barely audible.

"I'm already gone."

Kate's grip tightened.

"No, Ryan! Fight it!"

Ryan's black eyes locked onto Kate's.

"You'll never leave this place, Kate."

Suddenly, the room began to shift and distort.

Kate stumbled, losing her grip on Ryan.

As she regained her balance, Kate found herself facing a sea of black-eyed figures.

Ryan stood among them, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity.

"Welcome to the Shadow Walkers," Ryan whispered.

Kate's gun felt heavy in her hand.

She knew she had to act.

But as she raised her gun, Kate realized:

She was surrounded.

And outnumbered.