The Forest's Secret

Act 3 | Unsettling Discoveries | Part 2

As Ash wandered through the park, trying to shake the forest's lingering presence from his mind, he encountered a group of kids who often teased him about his fascination with monsters. They huddled together near the swings, their laughter piercing the otherwise quiet park. One of them, Micheal, spotted Ash and sneered.

"Hey, Ash!" Micheal called out, his voice dripping with mockery. "Still chasing shadows in the forest? Did you find any monsters, or did they find you?"

The others snickered. Ash took a deep breath, clenching his fists at his sides. The taunts stung, but he refused to let them see how much they affected him. Instead, he squared his shoulders and met their gazes with a determined look.

"I don't need to prove anything to you guys," Ash said firmly. "I know what I saw. And maybe one day, you'll see it too."

The laughter faded, replaced by a few uneasy glances as the group shifted their attention away from him. Ash turned and walked away, his resolve steeling against the mockery. As he continued his walk, he was more determined than ever to uncover the truth behind the forest's secrets.

Ash goes straight towards the forest. It looked different from what it was at night—instead of the forest looking grim and dark with the sight of Fallen logs and gnarled branches scattered throughout the walk. The forest, though lush and dense, had an air of quiet melancholy. Fallen logs and gnarled branches were strewn along the path, adding a rugged beauty to the landscape.

While walking near the forest, Ash saw something strange in the bush—a tattered piece of cloth snagged on a thorny branch. The fabric was stained with a dark blue, unfamiliar substance. He instinctively felt a chill.

The boy knew better than to touch that tattered fabric, but he kept thinking.

"Could it be a sign of something more sinister lurking in the forest? The cloth was too close to the edge of the woods to ignore."

So as any reasonable person.

He picked it up.