Chapter 3 Into the Heart of Darkness

Into the Heart of Darkness*

The figure led Lena deeper into the forest, the Shadows swirling around them like a vortex. The trees grew taller and closer, their branches creaking ominously in the wind. Lena's heart pounded in her chest, but she felt no fear, only a sense of wonder and curiosity.

As they walked, the forest grew denser, the darkness more profound. Lena stumbled over roots and fallen branches, but the figure caught her elbow, steadying her. Its touch was cool and gentle, like a summer breeze on a sweltering day.

The forest seemed to be shifting and twisting around them, the trees morphing into strange, gnarled shapes. Lena felt like she was walking through a dream, where reality was fluid and malleable.

Suddenly, the trees parted, and Lena saw a clearing before her. In the center of the clearing stood an ancient, twisted tree, its branches reaching toward the sky like a supplicant's hands. The figure led her to the tree and stopped, its gaze fixed on the trunk.

Lena approached the tree, feeling a strange energy emanating from it. The bark was rough and gnarled, like the skin of a ancient beast. As she touched the trunk, a surge of power ran through her, like a river of electricity.

The figure turned to her, its features still obscured by the shadows. Lena felt a jolt of recognition, as if she'd known this being all her life. The air was heavy with anticipation, and Lena sensed that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't yet comprehend.

The figure reached out and touched her forehead, and everything went black.

When Lena opened her eyes, she was lying on the forest floor, the tree looming above her. The figure was nowhere to be seen, but she felt its presence still, watching over her.