He woke up feeling sore, the uneven mat and rough bedding having done little to cushion him from the hard ground. Blinking against the early light, he stretched and rose, listening to the familiar sounds of people moving about, already busy with their work just like the day before. He couldn’t help but marvel at how everyone seemed to be up and active at dawn, working with a level of commitment he was still adjusting to.

Yawning, he made his way over to the main structure, where he spotted Brin shifting a large stone into position. Brin’s strength was impressive, his arms taut as he maneuvered the weight with ease. Admiring the man’s strength, he moved closer, stepping in to lend a hand. Together, they heaved the stone, positioning it in front of the main structure.

Brin grunted with satisfaction, giving him an appreciative nod. “Thanks for the help,” Brin said, brushing the dust off his hands. “We’re setting up for a strategy meeting later. It’s important to get everyone on the same page before we head out—make sure no one splinters off or loses their way.”

He nodded, the mention of travel stirring a question he realized he probably should have asked the day before. “How exactly do we get through the darkness?” he asked, a hint of unease creeping into his voice.

Brin’s expression softened with understanding. “Good question. Fore marks a path through the darkness for us to follow. It’s a bit of a risk, but he knows where it’s safest. He comes by and leaves a faint trail for travelers to see—a kind of guide, if you will. As long as we stick to that path, we stand a decent chance of making it to the next citadel.”

The thought of relying on a marked path through something as menacing as the darkness didn’t exactly ease his nerves, and Brin seemed to notice the tension on his face. With a hearty slap on his back, Brin grinned. “Don’t worry too much. Stick together, follow the rules, and we’ll be just fine. The key is to trust each other.”

Brin straightened up and grabbed another stone, preparing for more work. “Take it easy until the meeting. We’ll come and get you when it’s time,” he said, giving a reassuring nod before returning to his task.

Watching Brin’s calm, steady demeanor, he felt some of the anxiety ease. He turned to explore the camp further, thinking about the journey ahead and wondering just what this path through the darkness would look like—and if he was truly prepared to follow it.

Sometime later in the evening, as he rested along a gentle slope, letting his sore muscles relax, he heard footsteps approaching. Glancing up, he saw Kai heading his way. “The meeting’s about to start,” Kai announced with a grin.

He cast a quick look at the darkness edging the horizon, a constant, unsettling presence in the distance, before nodding at Kai. “Lead the way.”

As they reached the main structure, he was surprised to see more people than he’d realized were part of the group. They sat or stood in a half-circle around a large, flat stone that served as a makeshift table. A detailed map lay spread across its surface, weighted at the corners with stones, and an older man stood in front of everyone, gripping a long stick like a pointer.

“Who’s that?” he asked, nodding toward the older man.

“Oh, right, you didn’t meet him yesterday, did you?” Kai replied. As they settled at the back of the group, Kai pointed toward the man and whispered, “That’s Joran. He’s sort of like our leader. I don’t know too much about him, honestly, but he’s been here longer than anyone else I know. Some people say he’s seen things in the darkness that would scare most people half to death.”

Before he could ask more, Joran’s voice cut through the quiet murmur of the group. “Is everyone here?” he asked, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. Once he was satisfied with the turnout, he straightened and tapped the stick against the stone. “Then it’s time once again for us to prepare.”

Joran’s gaze was steady as he addressed the gathered group, his voice carrying an air of quiet authority. “Tomorrow, we set out for Hollowcrest. It’s a long way from here, but with patience and teamwork, we’ll make it safely. As always, before any journey, I’ll go over the safety rules. I expect everyone to listen carefully—especially those of you who are new.”

He raised his stick and pointed to a line on the map, tracing a path that wound through sparse green patches and close to the dark edges of the map. “First rule, as always: stick to Fore’s path. He’s marked the safest route through the darkness, and we don’t deviate from it. No wandering off, not even a step. If you’re ever in doubt, call out, and someone will guide you back. Remember: shortcuts can be deadly.”

The group nodded in silent agreement, the weight of Joran’s words settling over them. He continued, “Second rule: nobody, and I mean nobody, travels alone. If you need to stop, if you need to rest, or if anything feels off—signal someone nearby. We stay together, or we don’t make it at all.”

Joran shifted his stick to point to a section of the map farther along the route, his eyes narrowing. “Third rule: trust each other, and trust the plan. If anything should happen—if someone gets separated, if Fore’s markings disappear, or if we encounter trouble—follow the contingency plan.”

He tapped the map at a point halfway between their current location and Hollowcrest. “This spot here is our first checkpoint. If anyone gets separated or falls behind, this is where we regroup. Stay put, don’t try to go further alone. We’ll send a search party if needed.”

A murmur rippled through the group, a mix of unease and determination, as Joran moved his pointer to the large city marked Hollowcrest at the edge of the map. “Now, about the citadel. Hollowcrest is fortified, but there’s no guarantee they’ll open their gates to us. The darkness has changed people’s minds and made trust a rare thing. If, for any reason, they don’t let us in…” He paused, his face grave. “We have a contingency for that, too. We’ll camp outside and make contact with anyone we can inside. Hollowcrest has always been known for its stability, but if it’s overrun, we’ll have to fall back and seek shelter elsewhere.”

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He straightened, scanning the faces in the crowd. “I know this isn’t easy to hear. None of us want to think about what might happen if Hollowcrest isn’t the haven we’re hoping for. But we’ve been in difficult places before, and we’ve made it through. Remember that we’re not alone in this. We’re a team.”

Joran lowered his stick, his gaze calm yet piercing. “Tomorrow is a test for all of us, a test of unity and trust. If you’re unsure, if you feel fear creeping in, remember that everyone here has a role, and everyone here has survived darkness before.”

He let his words settle, then gave a single nod. “Prepare yourselves today. Rest, eat well, and be ready. And remember—if we follow the rules and stick together, we’ll make it through.”

The crowd nodded solemnly, some exchanging determined glances, others casting a wary eye toward the ever-encroaching darkness in the distance.

Joran dismissed them with a simple wave, and as the group dispersed, he felt a mixture of nerves and anticipation bubbling within him. The weight of the journey ahead was heavy, yet there was a strange comfort in knowing that these people had walked this path before. This wasn’t a march into the unknown for them; it was a challenge they were prepared to face.

Just as he turned to leave, Sis caught up with him, a glint of approval in her eyes. “You held your own today,” she said with a nod. “Not everyone handles the prep meetings so well.”

He managed a small smile. “Thanks. It’s... a lot to take in.”

She chuckled and led him to the makeshift sleeping quarters, her voice softening. “It is. But you’ll get used to it. You did well out there today. Get a good night’s sleep—we’ll need everyone sharp for tomorrow.”

As she left him to his rest, he settled onto his mat, his thoughts racing. The faces of the people he’d met here, the camaraderie he’d felt, and the strange, lingering feeling that he was a part of something larger—it all weighed heavily on him. The rules, the path, the trust they put in Fore and in each other… it was overwhelming yet oddly comforting.

He lay back, staring into the dim shadows of his makeshift quarters. Tomorrow they would step onto that marked path, leaving the safety of the camp and moving deeper into the unknown. And as much as he was uncertain about the future, he couldn’t deny a small, hesitant spark of hope—hope that maybe, with these people, he might just make it through.

As he drifted into sleep, he found himself in a familiar darkness—an unyielding, endless void stretching in every direction. Yet, unlike before, he felt no fear. Instead, a warm feeling bloomed in his chest, urging him forward. Step by step, he moved with purpose, guided by an instinct he couldn’t name. He didn’t know where he was going, but he trusted that he would arrive.

The warmth grew, spreading through him, and his pace quickened. Walk turned to run, and soon he was sprinting, filled with a strange, boundless confidence. But then—something shifted. A presence stirred in the darkness, reaching out, cold and intrusive. He felt it before he saw it, a creeping unease seeping into his bones. His confident sprint slowed, faltering, until his strides became cautious, hurried steps. What had once felt like a journey toward something now felt like a flight from something else, an urgency to escape.

The presence closed in, pressing against him from every side. It was already here, waiting, as if it had been beside him all along. Then came the laughter—maniacal and dreadful, echoing through the void. It wasn’t just sound; it was a force, gnawing into his mind, scraping against his soul. It grew louder, closer, an unbearable, clawing sound that felt as though it would hollow him out from within.

He shut his eyes, desperate to escape, hoping that the darkness behind his lids would somehow shut out the laughter. But still, it clawed its way in, consuming every part of him. He pressed his hands over his ears, but in doing so, felt another presence, even more disturbing: small, white, beady eyes emerging from the shadows. They multiplied, one after another, surrounding him, closing in. They stared unblinkingly, hungry and merciless, their gaze penetrating every defense he tried to build.

His heart hammered as he felt himself being swallowed whole, the darkness coiling tighter. There was no escape—only the inevitable. His breath shuddered as he slowly opened his eyes, ready to confront whatever horror had claimed him—

But instead, he was met with the soft glow of morning light, the familiar blue of the sky above, and the distant sounds of camp life stirring around him.

He lay still, his chest rising and falling in the quiet aftermath, the dream fading at the edges of his mind but leaving a lingering weight. The laughter, the eyes, the oppressive darkness—they were gone, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it hadn’t been just a dream.

Feeling sore once again, he rose from his makeshift bed to see the familiar camp around him being disassembled. The same people who, just days ago, had worked tirelessly to reinforce the crumbling structures were now stripping the camp down to essentials, scavenging the ruins for anything they could carry. He watched as makeshift beams were pulled down and baskets filled with supplies were gathered, everyone moving with a quiet urgency.

As he walked along the rows of people packing, he spotted Sis sitting off to the side, her belongings already packed and ready to go. She sat with her gaze fixed on the dark horizon, her face thoughtful and calm. He approached, and she looked up with a faint smile, patting the ground beside her. He took a seat, and they chatted about yesterday’s meeting, the plan Joran had laid out, and the journey that awaited them.

“Feels real now, doesn’t it?” she said, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and caution as she looked toward the shadowy expanse beyond. “Once we’re out there, the rules become everything.”

He nodded, glancing at the darkness that seemed to pulse at the edge of their world. “Yeah,” he replied, the weight of his dream lingering. “The closer we get, the more I can feel it…like it’s waiting.”

Sis gave him a steady look, her voice firm. “Just remember what Joran said—stick together, stay on the marked path, and we’ll make it through. It’s normal to feel nervous, but you’ve got us. We’re not leaving anyone behind.”

Before he could respond, Joran’s voice rang out across the camp, calling everyone to gather for final words. People paused, tools and bags in hand, and moved toward the main clearing where Joran stood, waiting. He rose with Sis and joined the rest of the camp as Joran prepared to speak.

Joran’s voice was calm and steady as he addressed the group, a sense of reassurance radiating from him. “Thank you all for trusting me and each other. I know this path isn’t an easy one, but I’ve seen what this group is capable of. We’ve come together through the worst, and we’ll make it through this, too. The darkness may be closing in, but we’re stronger than it. We’ve proven that before, and we’ll prove it again.”

A murmur of agreement moved through the group, and he felt a swell of determination rise within him as Joran’s gaze passed over each person.

After a final look around, Joran gave a nod and signaled for everyone to ready themselves. He felt a strange sense of calm as he thought of the darkness that had once engulfed him and the dream that had haunted him last night. The journey ahead was uncertain, but with these people beside him, he felt an unexpected resolve settling within him. He would make it through this ordeal—not just for himself, but for everyone around him.