The town of Blackwood Hollow was restless, the air thick with tension as whispers of the darkness's return spread like wildfire. Elena and Liam moved through the streets, their presence a quiet reassurance to the townsfolk, though their own hearts were heavy with the knowledge of what lay ahead. The encounter at the old mill had only confirmed their fears—the darkness was not gone. It had merely retreated, biding its time, gathering strength.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets, Elena and Liam found themselves standing at the edge of the forest once more. The trees loomed before them, their twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers, and the faint sound of whispering filled the air. Elena shivered, her skin prickling with unease.
"Do you think it's still in the forest?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.