𝟬𝟯
𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆
𝗴𝗼𝗱𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲!

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐈𝐑𝐊𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃, blotting out what little light remained as the sun dipped below the horizon. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and decaying leaves, a scent that clung to Elise's clothes and skin as she trudged deeper into the forest. Each step was careful, calculated, as she navigated the uneven terrain, her senses heightened in the oppressive silence that surrounded her.

The forest had always had an unnerving quality, but tonight, it felt different. The shadows seemed to stretch and writhe with a life of their own, and every rustle of the leaves set her nerves on edge. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, though she told herself it was just her imagination. The thought of turning back flickered briefly in her mind, but she pushed it away, determined to see this through.

As she moved further into the woods, the trees grew closer together, their twisted branches interlocking above her like the bars of a cage. The ground beneath her feet was soft and uneven, dotted with roots that seemed intent on tripping her up at every step. She stumbled occasionally, catching herself on nearby trunks, the rough bark scraping against her palms. Despite the growing discomfort, she pressed on, driven by a mix of curiosity and the stubborn refusal to admit she was scared.

The sounds of the forest surrounded her— the distant hoot of an owl, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot. But beneath it all, there was something else, a subtle undercurrent that made her skin prickle. It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

Elise paused for a moment, leaning against a tree to catch her breath. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, the cool air stinging her lungs. She took a moment to scan her surroundings, her eyes narrowing as she tried to pierce through the gloom. The darkness was thickening, and the once-familiar forest was becoming increasingly alien and foreboding.

As she stood there, catching her breath, her thoughts drifted back to why she had ventured out here in the first place. She wasn't one to involve herself in things like this—searching for missing kids wasn't exactly her idea of a good time. But staying at home, with Steve acting like the king of the world, had been unbearable. Besides, the idea of being recognized for something other than being "King Steve's Little Sister" had a certain appeal. Maybe, for once, people would see her as something more than just a footnote in her brother's life.

The snap of a twig somewhere to her left jolted Elise from her thoughts, her head whipping around to face the source of the sound. Her heart pounded in her chest as she strained to listen, her body tensing. The noise had been close—too close for comfort. She stayed perfectly still, her breath catching in her throat as she waited for whatever was out there to reveal itself.

The seconds dragged on, each one stretching out into an eternity as the silence pressed in around her. Then, just as she was about to convince herself that it was nothing more than an animal or a falling branch, she heard it again—the unmistakable sound of voices, faint but distinct.

Elise's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. She wasn't alone out here. Someone else was in the woods, and by the sound of it, they were getting closer. Instinctively, she crouched down, pressing herself against the tree trunk as she listened. The voices were growing louder, more distinct, and she could now make out fragments of conversation.

"...sure we're going the right way?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down, Lucas!"

"Mike, I'm telling you, this isn't the right direction..."

The names clicked in her mind, and a sense of recognition washed over her. She knew those voices. Cautiously, Elise peered around the tree, her eyes scanning the darkness until she caught sight of movement. There, not far from where she was hiding, she saw three figures making their way through the underbrush.

It was them—Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, and Dustin Henderson. The boys were huddled together, their expressions a mix of determination and fear as they moved through the forest. They were clearly looking for something, or someone, and from the looks on their faces, they hadn't had much luck so far.

For a brief moment, Elise considered slipping away unnoticed, but curiosity got the better of her. She hadn't come all this way just to turn back now, and besides, if they were out here looking for Will too, they might have more information than she did. Making up her mind, she stepped out from behind the tree, deliberately stepping on a twig to announce her presence.

The boys froze at the sound, their heads whipping around to face her. She could see the tension in their posture, the way their hands clenched into fists as if preparing for a fight. For a moment, no one spoke, the air thick with anticipation.

"Fancy meeting you guys here," Elise said, breaking the silence with a smirk.

The reaction was immediate. Dustin's eyes widened in recognition, his expression shifting from shock to relief. "Elise? What are you doing here?"

Elise shrugged, trying to keep her tone casual despite the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. "Same as you, I guess. Figured I'd see if I could find anything interesting out here."

Lucas didn't look as relieved as Dustin. He crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in concern. "You shouldn't be out here alone. It's dangerous."

"Please," Elise replied, rolling her eyes. "I've heard you scream before, if anyone shouldn't be here, it's you."

Mike, who had been watching her with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity, finally spoke up. "You didn't tell anyone you were coming out here, did you?"

Elise met his gaze, her expression hardening slightly. "Of course not. It's not like anyone would care."

Mike sighed of almost relief before nodding.

The tension in the group was palpable, each of them acutely aware of the seriousness of their situation. Despite their initial wariness, it was clear that they were all here for the same reason. Elise could see the worry etched on their faces, especially Mike's. She knew they were all concerned about Will, but she wasn't here to join a search party out of concern. She had her own reasons for being out here, and they weren't necessarily noble.

"You really think you're going to find him?" Elise asked, her voice softer now, as she took in the seriousness of their expressions.

Mike hesitated, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "We have to try. We can't just sit around doing nothing."

Elise nodded slowly, understanding that sentiment more than she cared to admit. She hadn't wanted to sit around either, not when there was something she could be doing—something that might actually matter. Even if she wasn't close to Will, the idea of finding him first, of being the one who did something meaningful, was enough to keep her going.

"Alright then," she said, her tone firm. "I'm coming with you."

Lucas looked like he was about to protest, but Mike held up a hand to stop him. "We could use the help," Mike admitted, though he didn't sound entirely convinced. "Just... stay close, okay?"

Elise nodded, her lips forming into a thin line.

With that, the group resumed their search, now with Elise in tow. The forest seemed to close in around them as they ventured deeper, the trees looming taller and the underbrush growing thicker. Elise kept her eyes peeled, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement, any hint that they weren't alone in these woods.

The boys were quiet as they walked, the tension between them unspoken but palpable. Dustin occasionally glanced back at Elise, as if to make sure she was still there, while Lucas kept a wary eye on their surroundings. Mike led the way, his flashlight cutting through the darkness, though the beam seemed to grow weaker as the night deepened.

As they trudged on, Elise found herself lost in thought. She couldn't help but think about how different this was from her usual routine, how far removed it was from the mundane reality of school and homework and Steve's endless antics. Out here, in the dark and the cold, with nothing but the sound of their footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves, everything felt sharper, more intense. It was as if the forest itself was alive, watching them, waiting.

The deeper they went, the more oppressive the silence became. Even the boys' occasional whispered conversations seemed to be swallowed up by the night. Elise's mind began to wander, her thoughts drifting back to the stories she had heard about these woods—stories of strange sightings, of people who had ventured in and never come out. She pushed those thoughts away, refusing to let them take hold. She wasn't about to let some old legends scare her off.

But as they continued on, something began to nag at the edge of her consciousness—a feeling that they were being followed. She couldn't shake the sensation that there was something out there, just beyond the reach of the flashlight's beam, something that was watching their every move.

"Elise?" Dustin's voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present.

"Hm?" she responded, turning to look at him.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, though her voice was a bit too quick, a bit too sharp.

Dustin didn't look convinced, but he didn't push the issue. Instead, he turned his attention back to the path ahead, his expression grim.

They walked on in silence for what felt like hours, the forest growing darker and more menacing with each passing minute. Elise's muscles ached from the constant tension, her nerves frayed from the ever-present sense of unease. She could feel the cold seeping into her bones, and she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to stave off the chill.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they reached a small clearing. Mike raised his hand, signaling for them to stop, and the group came to a halt. Elise looked around, her breath visible in the cold night air, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Do you hear that?" Mike whispered, his voice barely audible.

Elise strained her ears, trying to pick up on whatever it was that Mike had heard. At first, there was nothing but the sound of the wind rustling through the trees. But then, faintly, she heard it—a low, almost imperceptible hum, like the distant drone of a machine.

"What is that?" Lucas asked, his voice tense.

"I don't know," Mike replied, his brow furrowed in concentration. "But it's coming from over there."

He pointed to the far side of the clearing, where the trees grew thicker, their branches twisted and gnarled like the claws of some ancient beast. The hum grew louder as they approached, filling the air with an eerie, pulsating rhythm that set Elise's teeth on edge.

As they drew closer, Elise felt her pulse quicken, a sense of foreboding settling over her. She could see it now, the source of the noise—a strange, faint glow emanating from the depths of the forest, casting long, distorted shadows on the ground.

"What the hell is that?" Dustin muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Only one way to find out," Mike said, though there was a note of hesitation in his voice.

"What? Are you crazy? This is how everyone dies in every goddamn horror movie! Why are we going towards the sound and not running away from it?" Elise protested though the boys were already beginning to move towards the fuckin' sound.

Elise's stomach churned with a mix of fear. This was it—the moment they would find out what was really going on in these woods. The unspoken question was hanging in the air: should she go forward, along with the boys, or should she turn back and start screaming bloody murder?

But the question was already answered for her when from the darkness, a figure emerged.

She was small, slight, with a shaved head and large, dark eyes that seemed to bore into them. An oversized Benny's Burger t-shirt swallowed her whole, her face gaunt and hollow, but there was something about her—she seemed frightened.

.ೃ࿐ IRIS SPEAKS !

ty dollar $ign's verse ATE in carnival
anyways its BAE

anyways i got called fine by someone i liked and its NOT leaving my head, like im genuinely tweaking

are we liking how the book is going? lmk!!

don't forget to comment! i love seeing them and it gives motivation to write