Story 357: The Forsaken Forest

The air was thick with tension, a heavy fog curling through the gnarled trees of the forest. Zara Kincaid held her pistol steady, her sharp eyes scanning the underbrush for movement. She could hear the faint crackle of leaves and twigs breaking in the distance, each sound amplified by the eerie silence surrounding her.

“Another ambush?” she muttered under her breath, tightening her grip on the weapon.

The forest felt alive, its twisted branches arching toward her like skeletal hands. Zara crouched low, blending into the shadows, her crimson outfit muted under the dim light filtering through the canopy. She felt a shift in the air, an instinct honed by countless battles. Someone—or something—was stalking her.

A blur of motion darted past the corner of her eye. Zara spun on her heel, firing off a single shot. The bullet tore through the fog, striking a humanoid creature that collapsed with a guttural growl. Its glowing eyes flickered briefly before going dark.