The Road Calls

Morning came too fast.

Leah groaned as her alarm blared, slapping it off before dragging herself out of bed. Her apartment was cold, the kind of chill that made her hesitate before stepping out from under the blankets.

But today wasn't a day to be lazy.

She grabbed her duffel bag, double-checked her gear, and stuffed her laptop into her backpack. One last check. Everything a journalist might need.

A quick shower. A half-burnt piece of toast. And then she was on the road.

The city faded behind her, replaced by endless stretches of highway. She had the coordinates pulled up on her phone, leading her to… nowhere. No official maps marked the area, but that only fueled her curiosity.

The further she drove, the less civilization she saw. The roads grew narrower. Trees towered on either side, thick and uninviting. The GPS flickered, struggling to keep up.

And then

Fog.

It rolled in fast, swallowing the road ahead. Leah's grip on the wheel tightened.

Something about this place felt… wrong.

But she didn't turn back.

She pressed forward.