The Astral Connection

Chapter 1: The Last Night

*Update I will post a new chapter every Sunday*

The fire crackled softly, sending flickering shadows dancing across the towering trees around them. Elara sat with her knees drawn to her chest, staring at the flames, feeling the warmth of the fire on her skin but not in her heart. Something was wrong tonight. She couldn't put her finger on it, but the air felt heavier than usual, the silence of the forest pressing in on them like an invisible wall.

Around her, her friends laughed and talked as if nothing was out of place. Jenna sat across from her, gesturing wildly with her hands as she told some story about a teacher they all hated. Ethan and Lucas were cracking jokes, their voices loud and careless, while Mia, Elara's best friend, sat next to her, throwing her an occasional concerned glance.

"I can't believe it's our last summer before senior year," Jenna said with a sigh, tossing another stick into the fire. "Next year, it's all gonna be college apps and essays."

"Don't remind me," Lucas groaned, lying on his back and staring up at the sky. "This is supposed to be our time to relax."

"We still have time," Ethan chimed in, grinning as he leaned back on his elbows. "One last summer to be irresponsible."

Elara forced a smile. She wished she could enjoy the night as much as they did, but the unsettling feeling gnawing at her gut wouldn't let her relax. The forest seemed too quiet tonight. Even the usual sounds of crickets and distant rustling leaves were absent, replaced by a thick, eerie silence.

Mia nudged her. "Hey, you okay?" she asked quietly, her voice barely audible over the crackling fire.

Elara nodded, though she wasn't sure if she was okay. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."

Mia didn't look convinced but didn't push. Instead, she turned back to the group conversation, though Elara noticed the occasional glances Mia threw her way.

Just as Elara was about to suggest they turn in for the night, a sound shattered the stillness of the forest—a deep, rumbling crash that made the ground tremble beneath them. The fire flickered wildly, and all conversation stopped as everyone turned toward the woods, eyes wide with shock.

"What was that?" Lucas sat up quickly, his eyes scanning the darkness beyond the fire's light.

From deep in the forest, a strange greenish glow began to pulse, illuminating the trees with an unnatural light. The air felt different now, colder, and Elara could see her breath fogging in the suddenly frigid air.

"That didn't sound like a plane," Ethan muttered, getting to his feet. "Maybe... a meteor?"

"Should we check it out?" Jenna asked, her voice trembling slightly as she stood, her eyes fixed on the strange light.

Elara's stomach twisted into knots. The last thing she wanted to do was go wandering toward whatever had crashed into the woods. But when the others started to walk toward it, she found herself following them, more out of fear of being left alone than out of curiosity.

The trees seemed darker, more menacing, as they ventured deeper into the woods. The air was thick and hard to breathe, and the light grew stronger the closer they got, casting an eerie glow on everything around them.

They soon reached a small clearing, and there, half-buried in the earth, was the source of the light. It was a massive metallic object, larger than a car, with a surface that shimmered and shifted as though it were alive. Strange symbols glowed faintly on its surface, pulsating in rhythm with the hum that filled the air.

"What is that thing?" Mia whispered, her voice barely audible over the humming.

No one answered. Elara stared at the object, every nerve in her body telling her to run, to get away from this unnatural thing. But her feet stayed rooted in place. She could barely breathe, her heart pounding in her chest.

Suddenly, the object let out a high-pitched screech, and the ground beneath them trembled violently. The trees around the clearing seemed to bend and twist as if being pulled toward the object. Elara stumbled back, her ears ringing, as something shifted in the darkness at the edge of her vision.

"Did you see that?" Lucas asked, his voice tight with fear.

Before anyone could answer, the shadows around the clearing moved—slow, deliberate. Elara blinked, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her, but the movement continued. Dark shapes slithered out of the trees, twisting and bending in unnatural ways. They were tall, impossibly tall, with long, thin limbs and faces that were barely human. Their eyes—glowing red and filled with malice—locked onto the group.

For a moment, no one moved. Fear gripped Elara's throat, squeezing tight. The creatures stood there, watching them, as though deciding what to do with their prey.

And then, they attacked.

The first scream came from Jenna, a high-pitched wail that cut through the night air. One of the creatures lunged at her, its long, spindly arms slashing through the air like blades. Blood sprayed across the clearing as Jenna's body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

"Run!" Lucas shouted, but there was nowhere to go. Another creature emerged from the shadows, blocking their escape.

Elara stumbled backward, her heart pounding in her chest as the creatures closed in. Ethan tried to fight, swinging a branch at one of them, but it was useless. The creature moved faster than anything Elara had ever seen, and in seconds, Ethan was lying in a pool of blood, his body torn apart.

She wanted to scream, to run, but her legs wouldn't move. The creatures were all around them now, their red eyes glowing in the darkness. Mia grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the edge of the clearing, but it was too late. The largest of the creatures stepped forward, towering over them, its eyes locked onto Elara.

The creature's hand reached out, its long fingers brushing against Elara's forehead. A sharp pain shot through her skull, and the world went black.

When Elara opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was the sterile smell of disinfectant. The second was the rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor. She blinked slowly, her vision blurred and unfocused, but gradually, the white walls and fluorescent lights of a hospital room came into view.

Her body felt heavy, like lead, and her head throbbed with a dull, persistent ache. She tried to sit up, but her limbs wouldn't respond.

"Elara?"

The voice was soft, filled with relief and sorrow. Elara turned her head slowly, her eyes focusing on the figure sitting beside her bed. Her mother, eyes red from crying, sat with her hands clasped tightly together, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Mom?" Elara's voice was barely a whisper, her throat dry and scratchy. "What happened?"

Her mother's face crumpled, and she reached out, grabbing Elara's hand tightly. "You were found in the woods," she said, her voice trembling. "Alone."

Alone.

The word echoed in Elara's mind, and suddenly, the memories came flooding back in broken fragments. The crash. The creatures. Her friends screaming.

Her mother's grip tightened on her hand. "The others..." She choked on the words, her tears falling faster now. "They didn't make it."

Elara's heart stopped. The others. Jenna, Lucas, Ethan, Mia—they were all gone.

"I don't remember," Elara whispered, her voice cracking. "I don't remember what happened."

Her mother shook her head, her eyes filled with grief. "It's okay. You're safe now."

But Elara didn't feel safe. The memories were there, just out of reach, like shadows lurking at the edge of her mind. The creatures, the crash, the blood—none of it made sense.

As her mother wept beside her, Elara lay back against the pillows, staring up at the sterile ceiling. She should have felt relief, but all she felt was dread. Whatever had happened in those woods wasn't over.

Something was still out there. And it wasn't finished with her yet.