Story 595: The Ashen Witch

The forest smoldered under an eerie, unnatural fog. A sense of dread settled over ZETU as they trudged forward, their boots sinking into the ashen ground.

“Stay sharp,” Captain Marcus Kane muttered, his grip tightening on his shotgun. “Something’s watching us.”

Riley "Quick Shot" Bennett knelt by a half-burned corpse, her sniper scope scanning the twisting trees ahead. “This isn't normal…” she whispered. “Bodies burned, but not completely. Like something was playing with fire.”

"Literally," Jenna "Blaze" Hart added, kicking a charred ribcage aside. "But look at the ground—no signs of an actual wildfire."

Then, a whisper—soft, like dry leaves scraping together—slithered through the mist.

Ethan "Brain" O’Connor’s tablet flickered, distorting violently before shutting off. “What the hell?” He smacked it. “There’s some kind of interference…”

A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the forest. The ground beneath them heated up.