Eternal Midnight

First Encounter

Elena's POV:

The drive to Blackwood felt longer than I expected, but I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. It was my first real adventure, my first time moving somewhere new on my own. College didn't count—not really. After graduation, I spent three long years saving up, wanting to make sure I could afford a nice place when I finally moved out. Renting had become so crazy lately, and I didn't want to settle for some dingy apartment in a city that never slept. I craved something quieter, something... more mysterious. And Blackwood had that vibe.

I had one roommate lined up—Anna. We'd met a few times, and she was as friendly as they come, which was a relief. She was like me—someone looking to settle in a place with character and charm. Blackwood, with its creepy stories, dense forests, and near-permanent cloud cover, was exactly that.The moment the trees came into view, towering and ancient like the Redwoods of California, I felt a thrill run down my spine. The forests surrounding Blackwood were beautiful—mysterious, like a portal to another world. My full-time job as a graphic designer meant I could work from anywhere, and Blackwood seemed like a dream come true. This place was practically Halloween central, and I had a feeling the stories I'd heard—about witches, ghosts, and long-lost creatures—were only the tip of the iceberg.

A weathered, wooden sign greeted me: *Welcome to Blackwood.* The letters were faded and moss grew around the base, as if the forest itself was swallowing the town.

When I finally pulled up to the small cottage on Oak Street, Anna's car was already there, parked in the gravel driveway. She'd moved in a week before me, so I expected the place to be somewhat set up. I got out of the car, doing a little victory dance. I did it! I'd found a place in Blackwood. A place with charm, a reasonable rent, and a roommate I actually liked. All I had to do now was unpack.

After hauling boxes in for what felt like hours, I collapsed onto the couch in the living room, the walls around me aged, with chipped paint from what must've been decades of wear. The old house creaked, but it was cozy in a way that made me feel right at home.

I tilted my head back, staring up at the ceiling, and heard the front door creak open. Anna's cheerful voice cut through the stillness.

"Hey!" she called out with a wide smile as she walked in.

"Hey!" I replied, pushing myself up.

"How long have you been here? I wanted to be back to help you unpack, but work ran late."

"Not too long. Maybe an hour and a half. Honestly, I didn't need much help, just needed to take a break from the chaos. Moving is exhausting."

She nodded in agreement, dropping her tote bag and kicking off her shoes. "Well, if you need anything, let me know."

"I'm good for now," I smiled. "But thanks." As she disappeared into her room, I looked around at the bare walls. This place was great, but it definitely needed some personal touches.

After unpacking:

I felt restless after settling in. Blackwood was known for its forest trails, and I wanted to explore. Anna warned me about staying off private land, but I figured as long as I stuck to the marked paths, I'd be fine. I grabbed my yellow raincoat—it was raining lightly, just enough to make the trees glisten—and headed out. The coat always reminded me of *Coraline*. The whole vibe of Blackwood had that spooky, mysterious feel to it, and I couldn't wait to explore.I drove to a trail a mile outside of town, parking near the edge of the forest. As I stepped into the woods, the towering trees immediately closed in, their branches forming a thick canopy overhead. The trail was supposed to be a quick thirty-minute loop. Perfect.The air smelled fresh, damp with rain, and I started snapping pictures of the scenery, trying to capture that haunting beauty for later inspiration.But soon, I hit a fork in the path. There wasn't a sign, but I figured the left trail looked more worn, like it might loop back around. I kept walking. Time slipped away. After forty minutes, I realized I had taken a wrong turn. My phone had no signal, of course."Great," I muttered, trudging forward. Just when I was starting to panic, the trees opened up and I saw it—an enormous, midnight-blue mansion hidden deep in the woods. It looked ancient, with overgrown vines climbing its walls and tall, arched windows dark and uninviting. Despite the house's eerie aura, I felt a pull, an odd curiosity that made me move closer.The house seemed abandoned. No signs of life. And yet, it called to me. I stepped toward the front porch, the creaking of the old boards echoing in the silence.