Chapter 4: Into the Unknown

Chapter 4: Into the Unknown

Jack barely slept that night. Every time he closed his eyes, the memory of the encounter at the door replayed in his mind. The words—if they could even be called that—echoed in his skull. The weight of something unseen pressing against his thoughts, invading the edges of his reality. The way the figure had disappeared without a trace, as if it had never been there at all. 

He knew one thing for certain: whatever had come to his door wasn't human.

When morning finally came, Jack sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor. Shadow lay beside him, ears twitching, eyes open just enough to show he wasn't fully asleep either. Jack reached down, running a hand through the wolf-dog's thick fur. "You felt it too, didn't you?"

Shadow's tail flicked, but he made no noise. Jack exhaled and got to his feet. If he was going to make sense of all this, he needed to move. He grabbed his **Spectral Vision Goggles** from the desk and strapped them on. With a deep breath, he turned them on.

The world changed.

Before, the morning light had seemed soft, peaceful. But now, through the enhanced lenses, he saw what had been hidden in plain sight. Faint blue energy trails curled along the floor, as if something had been moving through the house, leaving behind a residue of its presence. The trails led back to the door—and beyond, out into the streets.

Jack clenched his fists. "Time to see where this leads."

He adjusted the strap of his duffel bag, checking his supplies. The **Emberfang Crowbar** was secured at his side, still humming with faint warmth from its fusion properties. He had water, food, and a notebook to keep track of anything unusual. He wasn't sure how long this investigation would take, but he had no intention of returning empty-handed.

Shadow padded beside him as he stepped outside. The early morning air was crisp, but something about it felt… wrong. The weight of the night's events hadn't lifted. Instead, it settled into the town like a thick fog, unseen but undeniably present.

Jack activated the **Spectral Vision Goggles** again and scanned the area. The blue energy trails weaved through the streets, forming patterns he couldn't quite decipher. They twisted and looped, leading toward the outskirts of town.

The abandoned train yard.

Jack frowned. He had always avoided that place. Stories circulated about it being haunted, but he had never given them much thought. Now, he wasn't so sure.

He turned to Shadow. "Looks like we're going on a little trip."

Shadow wagged his tail once, but his stance remained alert. He could sense the tension radiating from Jack. 

The walk through town was unsettling. The streets were nearly empty, save for a few early risers. To them, the day seemed normal. But Jack knew better. The energy trails leading toward the train yard grew thicker, more tangled, as if whatever had come to his door had left a stronger imprint here.

As they reached the rusted gates of the train yard, Jack hesitated. The air was different here—heavier. The blue energy was everywhere now, swirling like mist around the abandoned tracks.

Shadow whined softly, ears flicking forward. Jack crouched beside him, whispering, "Yeah, I don't like this either."

A sudden noise broke the silence—a metallic clang, deep within the yard.

Jack's grip tightened on the crowbar. He took a slow breath, steadying himself. "Alright," he muttered. "Let's see what's waiting for us."

Together, they stepped through the gate, into the unknown.

**To be continued...**