Outskirts of Ravenwood

June 15, 4050

    Hidden figures move through the trees, footsteps crunching as they carefully sprint to the small cottage. Panicked breaths, barely bringing enough air to keep going, are all to be heard. The trees around them seem to be closing in, uprooting themselves to hinder their movements, the looming oaks around them seemingly sinister on such a cold moonless night. As they hurtle over broken branches and fallen trees, a cry is heard. It rises through the filthy air, animalistic in its intent. The figures freeze, listening carefully, terror pounding through their brains. How? How could HE have found them? 

    “On your guard.” One whispered, his voice hushed and weary.

    “How did he follow us?” The other wondered, her voice trembling in fear as her wary eyes scanned the eerie black shadows. They had been so careful to leave no trails, not even a hair had been left behind. 

    The man put down his bags, in favor of his blade instead. It was stained and chipped from decades of use, but its potency had not been diminished. His eyes darted around ready, as he slowly stepped into a defensive stance. Every muscle was buzzing with pent-up energy, adrenaline lending him the alertness he needed. 

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    “Leo. Look. Over there,” The woman whispered, her voice wavering as she spoke in hushed tones. The man, Leo, followed her gaze to a seemingly harmless cluster of shadows. He squinted, eyes straining to see any kind of threat. What had the woman seen? He was about to turn away, prepared to declare that there was nothing amiss. Until he saw it. A slight movement, tiny but enough to guarantee the presence of an unwanted other.

    “Stay here. I’ll be back.” He muttered, eyes still locked on the shape. He could see it now, it was darker than the rest of the shadows. Bingo. He thought to himself as he slowly approached it muscles taught as he prepared to strike. 

    “Gotcha you little shit,” He sneered, his slow approach breaking into a full-on charge. Bellowing a cry as he lunged at the thing, he was shocked when he discovered… nothing. There was absolutely nothing in the darkness around him. Just trees. Only trees. The thing he had been charging at, was gone. It simply didn’t exist. He stood there for a few minutes, dumbfounded and looking like a complete fool. He let his blade drop to his side as he took a few steps around. How could this be? Both he and the woman, Alice, had seen something in this area. Yet when he arrived, it was magically gone?

    As he continued his inspection of the small tree, he heard the cry again. But this time, it wasn’t miles away. This time, it was right behind him.

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