The engine of Anastasia’s truck sputtered before cutting off with a shudder, leaving only the oppressive silence of Black Hollow Wood in its wake. She sat still in the driver’s seat, her hands gripping the steering wheel, her heart pounding a little too fast. The windshield was misted with condensation, but even through the fogged-up glass, she could see the towering trees at the edge of the forest. Black Hollow seemed alive, more alive than it had any right to be.
Even inside the truck, the cold infiltrated every corner. She glanced down at the dashboard clock it was early morning, but the sun seemed to struggle against the fog, casting everything in a dull grey.
She could feel it already that strange, unsettling energy that surrounded Black Hollow. It was like an invisible weight pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. The silence was heavy, almost oppressive. Broken only by the occasional whisper of wind as it swept through the trees. No birds. No distant hum of civilization. Just the quiet, eerie stillness of a place untouched by time, by people.
Anastasia hadn’t wanted to come here. She had promised herself that she would never set foot in Black Hollow, not after what had happened. But here she was, a year later, sitting in the same spot where Lena had parked her car the last time anyone had seen her. A shiver ran down Anastasia’s spine at the thought. The day Lena had disappeared into the mist of Black Hollow, chasing a story she was convinced would change everything.
The anniversary weighed on her like a stone in her chest. Every day since Lena’s disappearance had been consumed by the ache of not knowing, of wondering what had happened to her sister. Lena had always been the adventurous one, the risk-taker. Anastasia had always been the cautious one, the one who tried to pull her sister back from the edge. She hadn’t been able to stop her this time, and that failure had haunted her for the past year.
Outside, the fog thickened, weaving slowly between the trees. The untamed path leading into Black Hollow beckoned, barely visible through the mist. It looked like it hadn’t been touched in months, maybe years. Weeds towered over the trail, vines coiled up the trees, choking the life out of their trunks. Nature had begun to take back what little of the path had once been clear. The forest was alive in the way that only a place like this could be thrumming with a strange, sinister energy that seemed to pulse through the earth itself.
Black Hollow Wood was unlike any other forest. It carried a darkness, something deeper and more menacing than the usual fears of the unknown.
Anastasia’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, her fingers trembling slightly. It wasn’t just the cold that made her hesitate, it was the overwhelming weight of what lay ahead. She hadn’t set foot in Black Hollow since the day the search parties had called it off, and even then, she had only ventured as far as the tree line, standing frozen as others combed through the woods in vain.
She’s not here, she had told herself back then. Lena is still out there, somewhere.
But that hope had withered and faded as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months. The police had stopped coming around after the third week, their reassurances thin and hollow. The town had moved on, as small towns always do, the whispers about Lena’s disappearance becoming just another tale added to the dark legend of Black Hollow.
But Anastasia had never moved on. How could she? Lena was her sister, her best friend, the one person in the world she had always been able to count on. And now she was gone, taken by the same cursed forest that had claimed so many others before her.
She remembered the last time they had spoken. Lena had called her the night before she disappeared, full of excitement and enthusiasm, talking a mile a minute about the documentary she was working on.
“I’m onto something big, Ana,” she had said, her voice crackling with energy. “I’ve been interviewing locals, and they all tell the same stories lights in the woods, strange voices calling people’s names, paths that shift and change. There’s something out there, something no one else has uncovered. I’m going to be the one to find it.”
Anastasia had tried to talk her out of it, had told her to wait until she had more evidence before going into the woods alone. But Lena had brushed off her concerns, laughing in that carefree way she always did.
“Don’t worry about me,” Lena had said, her voice light and teasing. “I’m not afraid of a few trees.”
But it wasn’t the trees Anastasia had been worried about. It was the stories that had clung to the town for as long as she could remember. Stories of people who ventured too deep into Black Hollow and were never seen again. Some claimed the forest was cursed, haunted by the spirits of those it had claimed, while others believed there was something else at play something ancient, something hungry.
Lena hadn’t believed any of it. She had been too focused on her work to uncover the truth. But Anastasia… she had always been the cautious one. The one who believed in being careful. And now, it was that same caution that had kept her away from the forest for so long, afraid of what she might find if she dared to step inside.
But she couldn’t stay away any longer. Not today. Not on the anniversary of Lena’s disappearance.
She had to know. Even if the truth was more terrifying than the uncertainty.
Anastasia took a deep breath, her fingers brushing against the locket around her neck. The cool metal was a small reminder of Lena and the bond they had shared. The locket had been a gift from their mother one for each of them, identical in every way. Inside was a picture of the two of them as children, smiling and carefree, their arms wrapped around each other. It was a time before loss, before the weight of the world had come crashing down on their shoulders.
She hadn’t taken the locket off since Lena had disappeared, clinging to it like a lifeline. It was the only tangible connection she had left to her sister. And now, as she stared out at the mist-covered forest, the weight of that connection felt heavier than ever.
I’m coming, Lena, she thought, her chest tightening with the mix of fear and determination. I’m going to find you. One way or another.
Anastasia stepped out of the truck, the crisp air biting at her exposed skin as the door creaked shut behind her. Her breath came out in a visible puff. The ground beneath her boots was soft and wet. The cold sank into her bones, lingering deep in her chest. She pulled her jacket tighter around her body, but the chill felt unshakeable.
The silence was unnerving. There were no birds, no rustle of leaves, no sound of wildlife just the low murmur of the wind weaving through the trees and the distant creak of branches swaying under its weight. It was as though the forest was holding its breath, waiting for her to make her move.
She stood at the edge of the trail, staring into the dense fog that blanketed the forest floor. The path ahead was barely visible, tangled with creeping undergrowth, the trees crowding in on either side like the walls of a narrowing tunnel. The mist clung to the trunks, shrouding everything beyond a few feet in a thick veil. It was like stepping into another world one where the rules of reality didn’t apply, where the forest itself seemed to shift and change with every passing moment.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she took a hesitant step forward, her boots sinking slightly into the soft earth. The moment her foot crossed the boundary into the forest, a strange sensation washed over her, like she had just passed through an invisible veil separating the world she knew from something far more ancient and dangerous. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees, the air growing colder and heavier, pressing in on her from all sides.
The trees towered above her, their bark was dark, almost black, and slick with moisture, as though the forest itself was sweating. The canopy overhead blocked out what little sunlight there was, casting everything in a murky, dim light that made the shadows between the trees stretch longer.
Her heart pounded steadily as unease twisted in her stomach. She tried to focus on the path ahead, but her thoughts raced. Each step felt heavier than the last, as though the earth beneath her feet was trying to hold her back. She could feel the weight of the forest pressing down on her, The air was charged with a strange, heavy energy that clouded her thoughts. Every step she took seemed to weigh her down as the atmosphere around her grew denser. Her heart raced, and a growing sense of unease settled in the pit of her stomach.
The deeper she ventured, the more distant the outside world became, swallowed by the overwhelming presence of Black Hollow. The town, her truck, everything felt distant, almost unreal, as though it belonged to another lifetime. The only thing that mattered now was the path ahead the narrow trail that disappeared into the fog, leading her deeper into the heart of the forest.
She paused for a moment, adjusting the straps of her backpack and shifting the camera hanging around her neck. The familiar weight of it against her chest was a small comfort, a reminder of who she was and why she was here. Photography had always been her way of making sense of the world, of capturing moments and freezing them in time. But today, the camera felt different heavier, like a burden she wasn’t sure she wanted to carry.
Anastasia lifted the camera to her eye, snapping a few photos of the trees. The soft click of the shutter was the only sound, breaking the silence that surrounded her. The forest was beautiful in a haunting, surreal way, but there was something about it that unsettled her.
She lowered the camera, her fingers trembling slightly as she scanned the trees around her. The fog had thickened, making it hard to see more than a few feet in any direction. The path ahead was barely discernible, disappearing into the mist like a trail leading into oblivion.
Her breath hitched as a strange thought crossed her mind: What if the path changed? What if the forest was shifting around her, leading her in circles, trapping her inside its labyrinthine depths?
She shook her head, trying to push the thought away. It was just her imagination, just her nerves getting the best of her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching her. That she wasn’t alone. The path ahead was barely visible, disappearing like a trail leading into oblivion.
The deeper she ventured, the harder it became to ignore the strange, unsettling feeling gnawing at her insides. It was as if the forest had a will of its own, shifting and changing around her, deliberately leading her away from where she needed to go. She felt disoriented, as though the trees had somehow closed in behind her, cutting off her escape. The further she walked, the more the world outside seemed to vanish, swallowed up by the fog.
The air was thick, making it difficult to breathe. Her lungs felt tight, as if the forest were squeezing the air out of her with every step she took. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her skin prickled with a creeping sense of dread.
Anastasia paused, leaning against a tree to catch her breath. The rough bark dug into her palm, grounding her for a moment as she forced herself to inhale deeply, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She couldn’t let herself panic. She couldn’t lose control, not here, not now. She had come too far to turn back. But even as she stood there, trying to steady herself, It felt as if the forest itself was observing her, patiently waiting for her to falter. Anastasia’s breath came out in ragged gasps as she stumbled forward.
The silence was unnerving. There were no signs of life just the distant creaking of branches and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. It was as though the forest had swallowed everything, leaving behind only the sound of her own breathing and the steady thud of her heart.
She glanced down at the locket around her neck. It was Lena’s face that flashed through her mind, bright and fearless, her eyes alight with excitement as she had disappeared down this very trail a year ago. How had Lena not felt this? How had she not sensed the danger lurking beneath the surface of this place?
Anastasia closed her eyes for a moment, swallowing the lump of fear lodged in her throat. The memory of her sister gave her strength, but it also reminded her of what she had lost, of why she was here in the first place. She wasn’t just here to find out what happened to Lena she was here to finish what Lena had started. To uncover the truth, no matter how terrifying that truth might be.
But Black Hollow wasn’t making it easy.
When she opened her eyes again, the fog seemed to have thickened even more, the trees loomed like giants, the path ahead was nearly invisible now, and the air had grown colder, biting at her exposed skin despite the layers she wore.
She started walking again, forcing herself to move despite the growing weight of fear that pressed down on her. Every few steps, she glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see something lurking in the fog. But there was nothing just the endless stretch of forest, and the overwhelming sense that she was being watched.
Her breath hitched as the fog thickened further, as if it was pulling her deeper into the woods. Each step became more difficult, the ground slick with mud and tangled with roots. She stumbled more than once, barely catching herself before falling, her heart racing with each near miss.
She stopped again, her chest heaving as she fought to catch her breath. Her legs ached, and her head spun with exhaustion and confusion. How long had she been walking? How far had she come? It was impossible to tell. The mist distorted everything, warping her sense of time and distance, making it feel as though she had been wandering through the woods for hours, days even. But surely it hadn’t been that long. Surely.
Anastasia wiped the sweat from her brow, her hand trembling. Her mind was playing tricks on her now, twisting her thoughts, making her doubt everything. She glanced around, searching for any familiar landmarks, but there was nothing just the same endless stretch of trees and fog. The path had disappeared entirely, leaving her standing in the middle of the forest, lost and alone.
A wave of panic washed over her. What if she couldn’t find her way back? What if the forest had trapped her here, just like it had trapped Lena? What if
No, she thought, shaking her head. Don’t think like that. Don’t let it get to you.
She had to stay focused. She had to keep moving. There was no turning back now. Not after she had come this far.
Anastasia took another step forward, then another, her boots slipping slightly in the mud. The forest felt different now darker, more oppressive. The air was thick with tension. Every instinct screamed at her to turn back, to get out before it was too late.
But she couldn’t leave. Not without answers.
Anastasia’s feet felt heavy as she trudged forward. The trees loomed closer, the fog clinging to the air, making it hard to see beyond a few feet. The path ahead was barely visible, disappearing like a trail leading into oblivion. The weight of the oppressive silence pressed down on her, amplifying every rustle of her jacket. The forest seemed to be holding its breath, waiting.
Just as she was about to stop and regain her bearings, something caught her eye a flicker of movement in the corner of her vision, An indistinct blur, darker than the surrounding trees. She froze, her heart lurching in her chest as she strained her eyes through the fog, searching for the source. For a moment, everything was still. But then she saw it again, further ahead a shape lying half-hidden beneath a thick layer of wet leaves and tangled vines.
Her breath caught in her throat.
At first, she couldn’t tell what it was. The fog distorted everything, twisting the shapes in the distance into strange, shadowy forms. But as she moved closer, her heart thudding in her ears, the outline became clearer a human shape, motionless, partially buried beneath the forest floor.
Anastasia’s mind raced, her pulse quickening. She stumbled forward, her boots slipping on the wet mud, her hands trembling as she crouched beside the figure. The body was twisted and broken, the limbs bent at unnatural angles, the skin pale and mottled with decay. Whoever this person had been, they had been dead for a long time. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and rot, and Anastasia had to cover her mouth with the back of her hand to stifle the nausea rising in her throat.
But it wasn’t the state of the body that made her blood run cold. It was what the corpse was holding.
Clutched tightly in the skeletal fingers, half-hidden beneath the leaves, was a small, silver locket.
Anastasia’s breath hitched in her chest as she stared at the tarnished piece of jewellery, her mind spinning. It was Lena’s. She would recognize it anywhere the same delicate chain, the same smooth, engraved surface, now dull with age and exposure to the elements. Her fingers trembled as she reached out, gently prying the locket from the corpse’s grip. The metal was cold against her skin, heavy with the weight of what it meant.
Her hands shook as she turned the locket over, revealing the tiny engraving on the back. L.B. The initials stared back at her, mocking her. It was Lena’s locket the same one that had disappeared along with her.
Anastasia’s mind raced, a thousand thoughts swirling in her head, none of them making any sense. How had Lena’s locket ended up here? With this body? A body that had clearly been dead for years?
She stared down at the corpse, her heart pounding in her chest. It was impossible. Lena had only disappeared a year ago, and this body it had been here far longer than that. The skin was shrivelled, the bones exposed in places where the flesh had rotted away. But the locket… it was Lena’s. There was no doubt about that.
Her breath came in short, ragged bursts as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. How could this be happening? Had Lena met this person? Had they somehow exchanged lockets? Or was the forest playing tricks on her, twisting reality in some cruel, inexplicable way?
Anastasia stood, her legs shaking beneath her as she stumbled backward, the locket clutched tightly in her hand. Her mind was reeling, unable to hold onto anything coherent. The fog grew denser, moving with an unnatural speed, the trees closing in, their branches creaking as if in response to her discovery. Anastasia’s mind raced, unable to make sense of what she was seeing. How could Lena’s locket have ended up here, with this body?.
She turned, desperate to get away from the body, from the impossible truth it represented. Her boots slipped in the mud as she tried to retrace her steps, but the path was gone. The trail she had followed into the forest had disappeared, swallowed up by the mist and the tangled roots beneath her feet.
Anastasia’s breath came in ragged gasps as she staggered away from the body, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. The weight of Lena’s locket pressed heavily in her palm, as though the tiny object carried with it the crushing weight of everything she feared to confront. Her legs felt weak beneath her, and her vision blurred as she stumbled through the fog, her boots sinking into the mud with every step. The trees loomed around her, their branches twisting and reaching like skeletal arms, closing in as if they intended to trap her within the heart of the forest forever.
She tried to focus, to orient herself, but the path she had followed was gone swallowed by the mist, vanishing into the dense underbrush that now stretched out in all directions. The forest seemed alive, shifting and changing, deliberately leading her deeper into its depths. Every tree looked the same, every shadow a mirror of the last, and the fog only grew thicker, curling around her legs, wrapping itself around her like a living thing. She was lost.
A cold panic surged through her. Her breaths became shallow, quick, her chest tightening as if the very air had turned against her. She couldn’t stay here, not with that body lying behind her, not with the knowledge of Lena’s locket clutched in her trembling hand. She had to get out. But how? Where was she supposed to go?
The forest offered no answers. Only silence. And then
“Anastasia…”
Her name.
It came softly, almost like a breath, carried on the wind. But it was unmistakable.
Lena’s voice.
Anastasia froze, her blood turning to ice in her veins. She spun around, her heart pounding in her chest as her eyes scanned the mist, searching for the source of the sound. The trees stood still, the fog swirling lazily between them, but there was no one there. No movement. No sign of life.
“Lena?” Her voice trembled as she called out, barely above a whisper. “Lena, is that you?”
For a moment, there was nothing. Just the heavy silence of the forest, The mist bore down on her, thick and stifling, its presence making her feel trapped. But then, she heard it again faint, distant, but unmistakably Lena’s voice.
“Anastasia…”
Her pulse quickened, her mind racing. It couldn’t be. It was impossible. Lena was gone, had been gone for a year. And yet, here, in the heart of Black Hollow she was hearing her voice.
Anastasia’s heart pounded in her chest, a chaotic rhythm that drowned out the sound of her own breathing. She took a tentative step forward, her eyes scanning the mist for any sign of her sister. The fog parted briefly, revealing a narrow, winding path that seemed to stretch into the darkness ahead. The voice came again, clearer this time, closer.
“Anastasia…”
Lena’s voice.
It was her voice.
Anastasia took another step forward, her pulse racing. Every rational part of her mind screamed at her to turn back, to run, to get away from the forest and whatever strange, twisted reality it had begun to weave around her. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t ignore it.
What if Lena was out there? What if she was still alive, waiting to be found?
The thought gripped her heart with a fierce, desperate hope. She had come here to find answers, to understand what had happened to Lena. And now, as impossible as it seemed, she was hearing her sister’s voice, calling to her from somewhere deep within the forest.
Anastasia hesitated for a moment, her hand tightening around the locket as she weighed her options. Every instinct told her that something wasn’t right, that the forest was playing tricks on her, manipulating her mind. But the sound of Lena’s voice cut through her doubts, pulling her forward.
“Lena…” Her voice trembled as she spoke her sister’s name, the word heavy with fear and hope. “I’m coming.”
With that, she stepped off the faint trail and into the darkness of the woods, following the voice that called her name.