Mystery of Forest

chapter 9

As we approached the cottage, the door creaked open, and a middle-aged woman with a kind face and piercing green eyes stood before us. She looked at us with a mixture of surprise and concern.

"You shouldn't be walking alone in these woods," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "It's not safe, especially for young ones like yourselves."

Rose frowned, confusion etched on her face. "What do you mean? We're just exploring the forest."

The woman's expression turned serious. "You don't know what lies within these woods. Dark forces lurk in the shadows, waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting."

Sophia took a step forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What kind of dark forces?"

The woman hesitated, then nodded. "Come inside, and I'll tell you. But be warned, once you know, you can't unknow."

We exchanged nervous glances but stepped inside, our hearts pounding with anticipation. The woman led us to a cozy room filled with strange artifacts and books. She motioned for us to sit, and we did, our eyes fixed on her.

"These woods are home to ancient magic," she began. "Magic that can be both beautiful and terrifying. You've stumbled into a place where the veil between worlds is thin."

As she spoke, the room grew darker, and the air thickened with an otherworldly energy. We leaned in, our ears eager to hear more.

"What do you mean, 'between worlds'?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The woman's eyes locked onto mine. "The forest is a gateway to other realms, realms that exist beyond your wildest dreams. But beware, for not all that glitters is gold."

An old lady came from the door and looked at us.

Old lady: "Since you passed through forest, nothing came through your way."

(We replied in unison) "No"
Old lady : "I knew the moment I saw you three, you girls are special. You have a spark within you that cannot be ignored."

Rose: "What do you mean? What spark?"

Old lady: "The spark of destiny. You three are connected in a way that goes beyond friendship. You are bound by a shared purpose."

Sophia: "What purpose? We're just friends from school."

Old lady: "Ah, but that's where you're wrong. You see, I've been waiting for you. I've been waiting for the three of you to come together, to find each other. And now that you have, nothing will ever be the same again."

Me: "What do you mean? What's going to happen?"

Old lady: "Your lives are about to change in ways you cannot imagine. You will be faced with challenges and opportunities that will test your courage, your wits, and your heart. But know this: you three are stronger together than you are apart."

(We looked at each other, our minds racing with questions and doubts)

Rose: "What do we do now?"

Woman: "Now, you must embrace your destiny. Embrace each other. And trust that the path ahead will reveal itself in time.
Here's a continuation of the story:

As soon as the woman finished speaking, a strong force of wind swept through the room, extinguishing the candles and plunging us into darkness. We instinctively folded our hands together, closed our eyes, and held our breath.

The next thing we knew, we were falling, but not together. I felt myself being pulled away from my friends, and when I opened my eyes, I found myself back in my own bedroom.

I sat up with a start, my heart racing and my mind reeling. It was as if the whole experience had been a dream, but the memory of it felt so vivid, so real.

I looked around my room, trying to process what had just happened. But before I could make sense of it, I heard my parents' voices outside my door.

"Hey sweetie, how was your day?" my mom asked, opening the door.

I hesitated, unsure of what to say. How could I explain what had just happened? But as I looked at my parents' concerned faces, I knew I had to keep it to myself. For now, at least.

"It was fine, mom," I said finally, forcing a smile.

My parents exchanged a skeptical glance, but they didn't press the issue. "Okay, well, dinner's ready," my dad said. "Come on down."

I nodded, still feeling dazed and confused. But as I followed my parents downstairs, I couldn't shake the feeling that my life had just changed in ways I couldn't even begin to understand.