💥 SECOND LAST STEP TO GO LINKS💥
Part 2: Lena awoke to an eerie silence. The forest was no longer the same. The trees, once menacing and skeletal, now stood still, their twisted branches hanging low. The moonlight barely pierced through the dense fog that enveloped the area. She blinked, trying to clear her head, but her body felt heavy, as if the weight of the forest was pressing down on her.
"Ethan?" she whispered, her voice barely a breath in the oppressive quiet. There was no response.
Suddenly, a soft, familiar voice echoed through the trees. "Lena."
She turned to see Ethan, but he wasn’t the man she knew. His figure was translucent, like a ghost, fading in and out of existence. His eyes held a deep sadness, and the once-vibrant man now appeared lost in a limbo between life and death.
"You’re part of the forest now," Ethan said, his voice laced with sorrow.
Lena’s heart sank. "What do you mean? How can I leave?"
Ethan shook his head. "You can't. I tried to escape for centuries. But now that you're here, you're bound to it like I am. The curse won’t let us go."
Lena’s breath hitched, her mind racing. "There has to be a way. There’s always a way."
Ethan stepped closer, his face filled with regret. "The only way to break the curse is through a sacrifice. One soul must willingly stay, giving the other their freedom."
Lena stared at him, her chest tightening. She had come to the forest because of love, and now that same love was trapping her in this nightmare. The realization hit her like a cold wave—she had to choose between her freedom and his.
Tears welled up in her eyes. "I can’t stay here, Ethan. I can’t…"
"I know," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I don't want to trap you here. But if you leave, I’ll be bound forever. If you stay, you free me."
Lena’s mind raced, trying to find a way out of the cruel dilemma. She loved him, but could she truly give up her life for this cursed existence? She had always dreamed of a future filled with possibilities, yet here she stood, facing a dark eternity.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the shadows. It was different from Ethan's—ancient, malicious, and full of power. "Only one can walk free."
The forest trembled, and the shadows seemed to close in around them. Ethan reached for her, his hand passing through her like mist. "Lena, I would stay for you if I could. I’ve been waiting for so long, but I can’t ask this of you."
Lena’s heart ached. She thought about their time together, the love they shared, and the depth of their connection. She knew what she had to do. But as she opened her mouth to speak, the shadows surged forward, swirling around them, growing darker.
"Time is up," the voice hissed.
Lena clenched her fists, her voice trembling. "I won’t leave you, Ethan."
The forest fell silent for a brief moment, before the shadows withdrew. Ethan’s form flickered, and for a brief second, he seemed solid again. His eyes widened in shock.
"You would stay?"
Lena nodded, tears streaming down her face. "For you."
In that instant, the curse broke. The shadows dissipated, and the trees swayed gently as though releasing a long-held breath. Ethan became whole, his body solid and warm. He reached out, taking Lena’s hand.
But as the forest released him, it tightened its grip on her. The weight of the curse passed to her, anchoring her soul to the Silent Forest. Lena smiled sadly, knowing she had freed the one she loved.
As Ethan disappeared into the light of the world beyond, Lena remained in the darkness, watching over the forest. She had become part of its haunting legacy, a guardian of love and sacrifice.
