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“Theo,” he practically whispers. It’s almost like he doesn’t know how to talk.
“Theo, er… what do you want from me?”
“You’ve been assigned a mission.”
Theo hands me a note with instructions, his gaze unwavering and enigmatic. My heart quickens as I read the contents of the note. It’s an invitation—or perhaps a summons. If I want to learn more about this mission called The Rift, I’m to meet my team at the edge of the forest to the west of town. Now, as in tonight. This sounds like a military thing, which is just too weird for words.
Who the hell is watching me? How does someone know that I’ve just been researching The Rift? Either this is some elaborate prank that I’m not happy to be on the wrong end of, or there’s something weird going on here.
“Do I have to go?” I ask Theo, but it’s too late. He’s already gone. I didn’t even hear him leave. It’s like he just vanished into thin air.
What the hell is going on?
Should I go? I mean, it’s not as if I have a hot date or any exciting plans for the weekend anyway. The absence of my son, Ryan, during his college years, leaves the weekends feeling long and somewhat lonely. While I’m used to the solitude, the prospect of embarking on this mysterious mission with a team offers a glimmer of excitement, something to break the monotony of my days.
My curiosity battles with my sense of apprehension, but there’s no denying that I need answers, especially now that Wyatt is involved. I tuck the note away and make a mental note to prepare for this rendezvous with this so called team. The Forbidden Forest, with all its secrets and uncertainties, awaits, and I can’t help but wonder what lies ahead as I step into the unknown.
My heart races and my palms grow clammy as I approach the edge of the forbidding Knot Head Forbidden Forest. This is the designated meeting point for my team, the place where we’ll begin our mission into the heart of the enigmatic wilderness. If this is even a thing. Every step I take feels like a leap into the unknown, and the anticipation gnaws at my nerves.
The crisp air carries the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, heightening my senses to a state of intense alertness. I glance around, my eyes scanning the perimeter of the forest. The dark trees loom like ancient sentinels, their twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers, as if warning me to turn back.
My hand involuntarily tightens around the grip of my flash light, its reassuring weight offering a semblance of comfort in the face of the unknown. I try to shake off the feeling of foreboding that threatens to engulf me.
The coordinates provided by my team are precise, and this is the agreed upon rendezvous point. Yet doubt gnaws at the edges of my mind like a persistent insect. What if this is some kind of prank? I’m still concerned that I might be being set up, although I don’t know why. Or who. Or what the point of it would be. But rationally, there’s no other explanation.
With each step closer to the forest’s edge, my hesitation grows. I swallow hard, trying to dispel the rising tide of fear that threatens to overwhelm me. The tangled undergrowth and the impenetrable darkness beyond the trees seem to taunt me, challenging my resolve.
As I reach the boundary of the forest, my flashlight illuminates the shadowy expanse ahead. I take a deep breath, my nerves on edge, and call out to my team. The forest swallows my words, and the silence that follows is eerie, deafening.
“Anya?”
I recognize that voice. Is that…?
“Wyatt?”
His familiar form emerges from the shadowy depths of the trees, his silhouette illuminated by the soft glow of the flashlight.
Relief washes over me as I approach him, my footsteps crunching on the forest floor. “Wyatt!” I call out, my voice carrying a mixture of surprise and gratitude. I guess my suspicions are correct, which is a little worrying, but at least I have someone I know here.
He embraces me as my voice muffles into his chest. “What are we doing here?”
“Waiting for the leader… I suppose.”
Before I can ask anything else, another presence appears. Another member of the team, I suppose, although I have no idea what we’re doing here…
“Is this the team?”
My thoughts whirl as I struggle to comprehend the situation. I know him as well. What the hell is he doing here?
“Lucas?”
He appears on the edge of the forest, his tall and confident figure emerging from the shadows. The soft glow of the flashlight casts a warm light on his rugged features, adding to the surreal nature of the moment.
I’ve always had a little bit of a crush on him. Ever since he moved in next door to me with his adorable little boy…
“Anya, hey. It’s good to see a familiar face.”
He offers a crooked smile, his emerald eyes holding a hint of mischief. While him and Wyatt introduce themselves, I find my head spinning with the weirdness of whatever this is. Someone is going to have to tell me about this team in a minute, and about what we’re doing here, and how it relates to The Rift. But for now, I’m too gob-smacked to ask anything.
