Story 521: The Lurking Dawn

The first light of dawn barely penetrated the thick, oppressive fog surrounding the ZETU team as they pressed deeper into the forest. Shadows danced between the gnarled, lifeless trees, their twisted branches resembling skeletal hands reaching toward the fading stars. The team’s boots squelched in the mud, and the occasional snapping of twigs underfoot echoed unnervingly in the unnatural silence.

Captain Marcus Kane raised a fist, halting the group. His weathered face, illuminated by the pale beam of his flashlight, betrayed no fear but absolute focus. “This place doesn’t feel right,” he said in a low voice.

“Yeah, you think?” Officer Riley “Quick Shot” Bennett muttered, her sniper rifle at the ready. Her sharp eyes scanned the dense mist, catching faint glimpses of movement that seemed to vanish the moment she looked directly at it.