Welcome to my Dream World || (deukae)

Chapter 14: The Descent of Darkness

The moment their boots crunched upon the fallen leaves of Shadowveil Woods, a hush fell over the group, as if the forest itself demanded silence. The air grew cooler, the playful chirping of birds ceased, and even the wind seemed to hold its breath, threading through the trees with an ethereal caution.

"Stay close," Handong commanded, her voice barely above a whisper yet clear in the stillness.

The fading light of dusk caught in her eyes, reflecting a resolute spark that belied the encroaching darkness. She moved ahead, her steps purposeful, cutting through the gathering gloom like the prow of a ship cleaving dark waves.

"Can you feel it?" Siyeon murmured, drawing her cloak tighter around her shoulders. "It's as if the woods are watching us."

"Watching, waiting," Bora added, a tremor in her voice betraying her usual brash confidence. "But we won't be deterred, will we?"

"Absolutely not," Handong replied without looking back, her gaze fixed on the path that wound deeper into the heart of the woods. Her posture remained upright, a silent signal that fear would find no foothold among them this night.

"Handong's right," Yoohyeon said, stepping closer to Minji, whose sharp eyes scanned the shadows between the trees. "We have each other's backs. Whatever these cursed woods throw at us, we'll face it together."

"Even so, let's not invite trouble," Minji cautioned, her senses tingling with the instinctual awareness that had always been her guide.

"Trouble?" Gahyeon's voice cracked slightly, her own fears a heavy weight in her chest. "I just hope it doesn't involve—"

"Hey," Dami interrupted, her hand coming down reassuringly on Gahyeon's shoulder. "We're here with you, every step of the way. No one falls alone."

"Indeed," Handong said, pausing to allow the others to catch up. "Our strength lies not in our individual fears but in our collective courage. Remember why we're here. We move forward, as one."

With a united nod, the group pressed on, the atmosphere thickening around them, the mystery of the woods unfolding with each step. They were acutely aware that the true test of their resolve was just beginning.

Handong's boots crunched softly on the carpet of fallen leaves, the only sound in the oppressive silence that draped over Shadowveil Woods. The trees seemed to lean in, their bark twisted and blackened as if scorched by an unseen flame. Branches interlocked overhead, forming a macabre canopy through which little light could penetrate. The air was thick with a sense of dread that clawed at the edges of reason.

"Watch your step," Handong murmured, her voice barely above a whisper yet slicing through the quiet like a blade. Her eyes were sharp, catching the subtlest movement—a tremor among the leaves, a shadow flitting where there should be none.

They inched forward, the path before them narrowing, suffocated by the encroaching forest. Then, without warning, the ground vanished, replaced by a writhing mass of thorny vines that blocked their way. It was as if the Nightmare itself had taken root, creating barriers from its own twisted essence.

"Careful," Yoohyeon said, her hand reaching out to stop Minji, who was already studying the dense thicket with a critical eye. "These aren't ordinary vines."

"Indeed," Handong agreed, crouching to inspect the nearest tendril. A thorn grazed her glove, and she pulled back quickly—not out of fear, but respect for the danger they faced. "They're alive, in their own vile way."

"Alive?" Gahyeon repeated, her gaze darting between the creeping vines and her companions, seeking reassurance.

"Metaphorically," Dami clarified, stepping beside Handong. "But they might as well be. Look how they respond to our presence."