Hide-and-Seek

(“This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.”)



Deep in the heart of the dense forest, a group of children gathered for a game of hide-and-seek. Little did they know that this seemingly innocent game would soon take a sinister turn. The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the forest floor, and an eerie silence settled in the air.



The children selected one of their own, a timid girl named Emily, to be the seeker. With a nervous smile, she closed her eyes and began counting, her voice echoing through the trees. As the seconds ticked by, the remaining children scattered into the darkness, seeking out the perfect hiding spots.



Emily finished counting and opened her eyes, ready to find her playmates. But as she ventured further into the forest, a sense of foreboding gripped her. The once familiar surroundings seemed twisted and distorted, as if the very essence of the forest had turned against her.



The trees, once tall and majestic, now appeared gnarled and twisted, their branches reaching out like skeletal arms. The moon's pale light filtered through the thick canopy, casting an otherworldly glow on the forest floor. An unsettling chill ran down Emily's spine, but she pressed on, determined to find her friends. "I will be posting this story on RoyalRoad.com”