The fields were a grim reminder of the darkness's lingering presence. The once-fertile land now lay barren, the crops reduced to blackened husks, and the air was thick with the acrid scent of decay. Elena and Liam stood at the edge of the field, their expressions grim as they surveyed the damage. The farmer's words echoed in Elena's mind: *"It wasn't here yesterday."* The darkness was moving faster than they had anticipated.
"This isn't natural," Liam said, his voice low. "The darkness is spreading, and it's doing it quickly."
Elena nodded, her stomach churning with unease. "If it's already reached the fields, how long before it reaches the town?"
Liam's jaw tightened, his eyes scanning the horizon. "We need to find the source," he said. "And we need to do it now."