WITCH - ARA

Nine

It’s been a few days since we summoned Yovan, and honestly, it feels more human than spirit. But one thing keeps gnawing at me—what did it mean by "cursed woods"? Like Yovan said, I'm waiting for this "right time," but it’s driving me insane not knowing. It’s been coming whenever Silas or I called, and it’s been helpful in its own way. Ava, though, is still the same—unresponsive, lost. We’ve been giving her sleeping pills every time she starts to act out. I’m starting to wonder if we're doing more harm than good.

It’s the weekend and 6pm, so I’m at home trying to keep my mind off things when my phone rings. Silas. I answer it immediately.

"Hello, Si," I say, trying to sound calm.

"Uhh, Blaze, actually... I'm following Yovan to the woods. I didn’t want to at first, but I need Ava back to normal, so—"

I cut her off before she can finish. "You will not step your foot into that forest, Silas. I’m warning you."

"Girl, you're always so dramatic. I’m a paranormal investigator, remember? It’s not a big deal! You need to chill, besides, what could go wrong?."

I can feel my anger rising, but more than that, it’s fear. "Listen, you can’t just go wandering into cursed woods with a spirit we barely know. We don’t even know if Yovan is good or bad, Si! You’re making a huge mistake."

"Jesus, Blaze, you’re being—" The call cuts off abruptly as she hangs up on me.

I stare at my phone in disbelief. Damn it, Silas. I can’t just sit here. I grab my keys and head straight to Si’s place, my heart pounding the whole way there. When I get to the house, I burst through the door, my mind racing with the worst-case scenarios.

Si’s and Ava’s parents are sitting in the living room, and I try to force a smile, though it probably looks more like a grimace. "Hi," I say quickly, then start to make a beeline for Silas’s room, but her mom’s voice stops me in my tracks.

"Blaze, she’s gone somewhere nearby. She said she’ll be back soon."

I freeze. Damn it, she’s already gone. "And Ava?" I ask, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

"She’s asleep in the guest room," her mom replies calmly, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside me.

I force myself to nod, even though my mind is screaming at me to run after Silas. I can’t leave things like this, but I also can’t just barge into those woods without knowing what I’m up against. I need to think, but the tension is unbearable.

I turn to her mom, trying to keep my voice steady. "I’m really worried about her. Did she say where exactly she was going?"

She shakes her head, looking a bit puzzled. "No, she just said she had something important to check out and that she'd be back soon."

"Thanks," I mutter, already halfway out the door. I need to find Silas before something terrible happens. This isn’t just some ghost hunt—this is real, and it’s dangerous.

As I drive towards the woods, my mind races. What the hell is Silas thinking? She’s always been reckless, but this is a whole new level of insanity. I can only hope I’m not too late.

The car screeches to a halt as I pull over on the side of the road, right at the edge of the woods. My heart is pounding in my chest, a relentless drumbeat of anxiety and fear. The trees ahead loom like a wall of shadows, thick and impenetrable. I can’t see a damn thing past the first few feet of tangled branches and undergrowth. The woods feel alive, like they're watching me, waiting for me to make a move.

I step out of the car, slamming the door behind me. The sound echoes, unnaturally loud in the oppressive silence. The air is thick and humid, clinging to my skin as I stand there, staring into the darkness. I have no idea where to start, no clue where Silas could have gone. These woods are vast, sprawling for miles in every direction. She could be anywhere. Or worse, something could already have found her.