Chapter 11: Into the Unknown

Harvey and Julia stood at the edge of the village ruins, their home now a wasteland of memories. Smoke still clung to the air, the last remnants of the fire that had devoured everything. The tree's warning had come too late to save anyone but themselves. Now, there was nothing left for them here.

Harvey clenched his fists. His body still ached from the escape, but the weight on his chest was worse. Julia, standing beside him, pulled her tattered cloak tighter around her shoulders, eyes locked on the distant forest.

"We can't stay here," she said, voice steady despite the devastation around them.

Harvey exhaled slowly. He knew she was right. The tree had given them a direction, a path leading into the unknown. It wasn't much, but it was all they had.

Together, they turned away from their past and stepped into the wilderness.

A Journey Begins

The forest swallowed them quickly, its towering trees stretching high above, branches intertwining like a massive, breathing entity. Unlike the woods near their village, this part of the forest was untouched—old, ancient. There was no sign of human paths, no footprints in the dirt. It was as if the land had never been walked upon.

Harvey's mark pulsed faintly on his hand, a reminder of what had led them here. He rubbed at it absentmindedly as they walked, trying to ignore the strange sensation—like something beyond the physical world was watching.

They had only been traveling for a few hours when the terrain changed. The land sloped downward, revealing a gaping ravine cutting through the forest floor. A river rushed below, its roar breaking the eerie silence.

"We need to find a way across," Julia said, scanning the area.

Harvey nodded, stepping closer to the edge. He could feel the space between the two sides, an awareness stretching beyond what was normal. A strange instinct whispered to him, telling him exactly how far the gap was, how unstable the rock beneath their feet was.

Julia arched a brow at his hesitation. "What's wrong?"

"I…" Harvey hesitated. "I can feel the distance. Like, not just see it—I know how far it is."

Julia snorted. "Great. You've unlocked the ability to judge gaps. How useful."

Harvey shot her a look, but before he could argue, she pointed toward a fallen tree nearby. "That might work as a bridge."

With effort, they managed to push and roll the massive log toward the edge, lining it up over the ravine. It creaked ominously as it settled in place, forming a narrow, unsteady path.

"Ladies first," Harvey said, smirking.

Julia scoffed. "Nice try. You go first, in case it breaks."

Rolling his eyes, Harvey stepped onto the log. His breath slowed as he focused. The awareness of space he had felt before sharpened, letting him feel each shift in the log's weight as he crossed.

By the time he reached the other side, his heart was pounding, but he was unharmed. Julia followed swiftly, landing beside him with a relieved breath.

As they pressed on, the forest grew denser, the air heavy with something unseen.

A Restless Night

By nightfall, they found a clearing and set up camp. The fire crackled softly, providing a small circle of warmth against the chilling forest air.

Julia sat with her knees pulled to her chest. "Do you think anyone else made it out?"

Harvey didn't answer immediately. The truth was, he didn't know. He wanted to believe that someone—anyone—had survived, but the village had been in ruins when they fled.

"I don't know," he admitted. "But if they did, they wouldn't have stayed there."

Julia nodded, staring into the flames. Silence stretched between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence shared by people who had lost too much to put into words.

Harvey shifted, trying to shake the uneasy feeling that had settled over him. The mark on his hand had been quiet for most of the day, but now… now it was pulsing again.

And then he felt it.

A presence. Something was watching them.

His breath hitched, his body tensing instinctively. He scanned the treeline, searching for movement. Shadows flickered beyond the firelight, but there was nothing—no sound, no obvious threat.

Yet the feeling remained.

He didn't wake Julia. Instead, he gripped the small knife at his side and kept watch, eyes never leaving the darkness.

And when he finally drifted into an uneasy sleep, his dreams were not his own.

He saw the village. The burned houses. The altar stone in the town square, its symbols glowing faintly. And before it stood a figure—tall, cloaked in shadows, waiting.

When Harvey woke, his mark was burning.

And they were no longer alone.