Beneath the Surface
The first light of dawn cast a soft glow over Misty Vale Village, but the eerie stillness of the night lingered. The group packed quickly, eager to leave.
Xu Tian glanced at the village square, where the well stood ominously. "I still think we should check it out. What if something terrible happens after we leave?"
"Something terrible will definitely happen if we stay," Yue Lin said, tightening her pack.
"But—"
Shen Feng interrupted, his voice calm but firm. "Let it go, Xu Tian. We're not equipped to handle whatever is in that well."
Xu Tian sighed, reluctantly falling in line as the group headed for the village exit.
Before they could leave, the old man from the previous day appeared, leaning heavily on his cane.
"Leaving so soon?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with an unreadable expression.
"We've already stayed longer than we planned," Shen Feng said diplomatically.
The old man chuckled. "A wise decision, perhaps. But before you go, would you indulge an old man's curiosity?"
Xu Tian frowned. "Curiosity about what?"
The elder gestured toward the well. "Did you hear anything unusual last night?"
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
"Nope," Xu Tian lied quickly. "Slept like a baby."
The old man's smile widened. "Ah, I see. Safe travels, then. And may fortune favor your journey."
As they walked away, Xu Tian whispered, "That guy gives me the creeps."
Wei Ling grinned. "He's probably just lonely. Or hiding a terrible secret. One of the two."
The path out of Misty Vale was winding and overgrown, with thick trees forming a canopy overhead. The group walked in tense silence, their thoughts lingering on the village.
Hours passed without incident, but the further they went, the heavier the air seemed to grow.
"Does anyone else feel like we're being followed?" Yue Lin asked, her hand on her sword.
Xu Tian shivered. "Don't say that. Now I'm imagining all sorts of things."
Shen Feng paused, scanning the area. "Stay close. If someone is following us, they're good at hiding."
The group's suspicions were confirmed when a figure stepped out of the trees ahead of them. It was a young girl, no older than ten, dressed in ragged clothes. Her wide eyes were filled with fear, and she clutched a small wooden doll.
"Please," she said, her voice trembling. "Don't leave me behind."
Xu Tian blinked. "Who are you?"
"I'm Mei," she said, tears streaming down her face. "The village elder sent me to bring you back."
Yue Lin narrowed her eyes. "Why would he send a child?"
"I don't know," Mei sobbed. "He just said you couldn't leave. Please, come back. He'll be angry if you don't."
Xu Tian's heart sank. "Okay, this is officially terrifying."
Despite their misgivings, the group decided to return to the village, unable to ignore the child's desperation.
When they arrived, the village square was empty, the once-bustling atmosphere replaced by an oppressive silence.
The elder stood by the well, his cane tapping rhythmically against the ground. "Ah, you've returned. Good, good."
Xu Tian stepped forward, his nerves fraying. "What's going on? Why did you send her after us?"
The old man's smile didn't falter. "You were meant to stay. The village has chosen you."
"Chosen us for what?" Yue Lin demanded.
The elder gestured to the well. "To uncover the truth. It cannot remain hidden any longer."
Before they could protest, the villagers emerged from their homes, forming a silent circle around the well. Their expressions were blank, their movements almost mechanical.
"This is bad," Xu Tian whispered.
The elder raised his cane, and the villagers began to chant in low, guttural voices. The air grew heavy, and the ground beneath the group's feet trembled.
Shen Feng drew his sword. "We're leaving. Now."
But before they could move, the well erupted with a blinding light. The ground cracked open, and a swirling vortex appeared, pulling the group toward it.
"Hold on!" Yue Lin shouted, grabbing Xu Tian's arm.
The force was too strong. One by one, they were pulled into the vortex, the villagers' chanting growing louder as the world around them dissolved into darkness.
When Xu Tian opened his eyes, he found himself in a cavern lit by an eerie, phosphorescent glow. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something metallic.
"Is everyone okay?" he called out, his voice echoing.
"We're here," Yue Lin said, helping Wei Ling to his feet.
Shen Feng examined the cavern walls, his expression grim. "This isn't natural. Someone built this place."
Xu Tian groaned. "Great. We've been dragged into some underground nightmare. Again."
In the distance, a faint light flickered, drawing their attention.
"Looks like we have no choice but to move forward," Yue Lin said, her grip tightening on her sword.
As they ventured deeper into the cavern, the flickering light grew brighter, revealing ancient carvings on the walls. The symbols were unfamiliar, but they radiated a strange energy that made Xu Tian's skin crawl.
"This feels like the setup for a bad horror story," Xu Tian muttered.
Wei Ling grinned. "Don't worry. In horror stories, the funny guy always survives."
"Yeah, but the cowardly guy dies first," Xu Tian shot back.
Their banter was cut short by the sound of footsteps echoing through the cavern.
"Someone's coming," Shen Feng said, his voice low.
The group tensed, weapons at the ready, as a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness.
The figure stepped into the light, revealing a man clad in tattered robes, his face obscured by a hood. His voice was deep and raspy as he spoke.
"You should not have come here."
Xu Tian threw up his hands. "We didn't want to come here! Your creepy village dragged us in!"
The man ignored him, pointing to the carvings on the walls. "Do you know what these mean?"
"No," Yue Lin said. "And we don't care. We just want to leave."
The man laughed, a sound that sent chills down their spines. "There is no leaving. Not until the curse is broken."
"Curse?" Xu Tian groaned. "Why is it always a curse?"
The man stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Because this village was built on lies. And you…you will uncover the truth."