💥 FIRST STEP💥
PART 1: Lena had always heard the rumors about the Silent Forest, but she never believed them. A haunted place where those who entered never returned. People spoke of a curse, a love that had been torn apart centuries ago, trapping souls in its embrace. But Lena had no time for old legends. Love was just a fleeting illusion to her, a distraction she didn’t have space for—until she met Ethan.
.webp "The Silent Forest - Part 1")
Ethan was everything Lena didn’t know she needed. His gentle smile, the way his eyes lit up when he looked at her—it melted her hardened heart. They spent months together, losing themselves in each other’s company, their connection deepening with each passing day. Yet, there was something Ethan never spoke of, a sadness in his eyes that flickered whenever they were silent, as though he carried a heavy burden.
One evening, under the silver glow of a full moon, Ethan asked Lena to meet him at the edge of the Silent Forest. Her heart skipped a beat, the eerie tales whispering in her mind. But for Ethan, she would go anywhere. She trusted him.
When she arrived, the air felt colder, and the trees seemed to loom larger than she remembered. Ethan was waiting for her, standing just inside the forest's boundary. His face was pale, and his usual warmth seemed distant.
"There's something I need to tell you," he began, his voice a whisper carried by the wind. "This forest... it's cursed. A long time ago, two lovers tried to run away together. But they were betrayed, and only one escaped. The other’s soul was trapped here, waiting for their love to return."
Lena’s heart raced. "Why are you telling me this?"
Ethan looked at her with an expression she couldn’t quite place—sorrow mixed with longing. "Because I’m part of that curse, Lena. I was the one who escaped."
Lena’s blood ran cold. The trees around them began to stir, their branches reaching out like skeletal hands. "What are you saying?"
Ethan stepped closer, his eyes pleading. "I’ve been waiting for centuries, for my love to return. I thought I could escape, but the forest won't let me go unless…"
A sudden chill gripped Lena’s heart as realization dawned. "Unless what?"
"Unless I bring someone back with me. Someone who loves me," he whispered, his voice filled with regret.
Lena’s breath caught in her throat. She stumbled backward, the forest closing in. The shadows seemed alive, whispering of betrayal, of promises broken. Ethan’s face twisted in pain as he watched her retreat.
"I never wanted to hurt you," he cried. "But the curse... it demands a sacrifice."
Tears welled in Lena’s eyes. "You used me."
Ethan shook his head desperately. "No! I love you! But I can’t escape alone."
Lena turned, running for the forest’s edge, her heart pounding in her chest. The trees reached out, the wind howling as the curse tried to claim her. Just as her fingers brushed the cold grass beyond the forest line, a hand grabbed her wrist.
Ethan's voice was soft, filled with sorrow. "I’m sorry."
And then, the forest swallowed them both.
