THE TEMPTRESS

||Ignite||

•STEPHANIE•

The car rolled to a slow stop. Peering out the window, all I saw were trees surrounding us. We were in the middle of the woods.

"Why are we here?" I asked Kaden.

I thought we were heading back to his place after leaving the church, but this unexpected detour raised my eyebrows.

"I wanna show you something," he said before stepping out of the car.

A subtle feeling tugged at my gut, but I dismissed it. Back at the church, he didn't seem suspicious that I'd been tailing him, but now I sensed he was onto me.

I wasn't sure why he brought me to this remote spot, but if anything felt off, I was ready to act.

Finally freeing myself from the seatbelt, I got out of the vehicle. The towering trees cast a dark shadow, with only a sliver of sunlight cutting through.

Kaden circled the car and joined me. He shot me a glance before veering off the main road, walking into the woods.

"I'm getting a bad feeling about this," I called after him, but he didn't turn back.

"Start following, Steph, or we'll miss it."

Miss what?

With a reluctant sigh, I decided to trail him. I'm not a fan of the woods, or nature in general, as they tend to give me the creeps.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows through the dense foliage, painting the woods in hues of amber and gold.

Towering trees loomed overhead, their branches entwined like ancient guardians of the forest.

As I followed Kaden's silhouette, the crunch of fallen leaves beneath my boots resonated in the quietude.

The air carried a subtle chill, and a gentle breeze whispered through the leaves, creating a haunting melody that heightened the eerie atmosphere.

Birds chirped sporadically, their voices echoing through the woodland, blending with the rustling leaves and the distant murmur of a trickling stream.

The interplay of light and shadows created a surreal dance on the forest floor, and a sense of mystique hung in the air, as if the woods held secrets untold.

Kaden moved with a quiet determination, and as we ventured deeper into the heart of the woods, the trees stood taller and more imposing.

Shadows clung to the trunks, and the fading daylight added a sense of urgency to our journey. Nature's symphony of sounds intensified, enveloping us in a mysterious embrace.

Yet, amidst the enchanting beauty, an unsettling feeling tugged at the edges of my consciousness.

The woods, once a serene sanctuary, now seemed to harbor secrets, each rustle and creak magnified in the fading light.

Then suddenly, Kaden stopped and turned around. I also paused in my tracks and stared at him with confusion. The fading light from the sun casting a golden glow on his face, making him look so.....unreal

"Close your eyes."

"Why?" I immediately asked.

"Do you trust me?" My breath suddenly hitched.