The forest was always watching. Its twisted branches formed jagged claws that reached toward the sky, as if trying to snatch something unseen. A dense mist rolled through its depths, muffling sound and swallowing light.

The ground beneath the canopy was littered with bones. Not the kind that belonged to animals but things far older, ancient, and forgotten. And yet, the forest did not feel dead. It pulsed with life—something darker than the green leaves and soft mosses. It breathed. It whispered.

A shadow moved between the trees, slow and deliberate. It paused at the edge of the woods, where a small town lay silent under the dim glow of an amber sky. A faint smirk crossed its face—or what could pass for a face.

"They’ve arrived," it murmured, voice low and hollow. The words melted into the wind, carried into the silent streets of the town below. "Let the game begin."

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Ethan Carter woke to the sound of a clock striking twelve.

The sharp chime cut through the fog in his mind like a blade, pulling him from a dreamless sleep. He blinked, groaning as he pushed himself upright. The cold stone beneath him bit at his palms. His head throbbed, and his mouth was dry.

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Where am I?

The town square stretched out before him, empty and lifeless. It looked like something out of an old movie—quaint but forgotten, with faded storefronts and peeling paint. At the center of the square stood a massive clock tower, its face cracked but still ticking.

Ethan rubbed his temples. The last thing he remembered was...nothing. His memory felt like a puzzle with missing pieces. He stood, brushing dirt off his jeans, and turned in a slow circle.

“Hello?” he called, his voice echoing off the abandoned buildings.

No response.

He spotted a figure lying on the ground a few feet away. His stomach tightened as he approached, wary. The figure groaned and stirred—a boy around his age, with messy black hair and a scowl that seemed permanent even in unconsciousness.

Ethan crouched beside him, shaking his shoulder. “Hey. You okay?”

The boy’s eyes shot open, dark and sharp. He flinched away, scrambling to his feet. “Who the hell are you?”

“Ethan,” he said, holding up his hands in a show of peace. “I just woke up here, same as you.”

The boy narrowed his eyes. “Great. I’m Damien.”

A sudden rustling sound made both of them freeze. They turned toward the source—a narrow alleyway between two buildings. The shadows there seemed thicker, darker. Ethan’s pulse quickened.

“Maybe we should check it out,” he said, though his feet stayed rooted.

“Maybe we shouldn’t,” Damien countered, already backing away.

Before Ethan could respond, the rustling grew louder, closer. A figure stumbled out of the shadows—a girl with long, dark hair and wide, terrified eyes.

“Help me,” she gasped, collapsing to her knees.

Ethan rushed forward, catching her before she hit the ground. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. What’s your name?”

“Mia,” she whispered, clutching his arm like a lifeline. “We have to get out of here. The forest—it’s alive.”