New Atlantis [Old Ver]

The Silent Path

Rayleigh gripped the wheel, his eyes fixed on the shadowy road ahead. The silence in the car felt almost deafening, amplifying every nervous breath and the faint tick of the broken watch on his wrist. The old radio had come to life on its own, sputtering out static, creature-like noises, and garbled fragments of an old tune-one that seemed familiar yet alien.

Then, the station changed, and a mournful cry echoed from the speakers, chilling them both.

"Enough!" Marco, visibly on edge, snapped and lunged forward, slamming his fist into the radio. With a dull crack, it fell silent. Rayleigh's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, his patience worn thin.

"You didn't need to break it, Marco!" he growled, tension crackling between them. "What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?" Marco shot back, his voice rising. "We're trapped in this nightmare, and you're worried about a radio?"

Rayleigh pulled the car to a sharp stop, frustration and confusion flashing across his face. "We're here, stuck with no answers, and you're making it worse."

Needing air, Rayleigh stepped out, the cool night air settling his nerves. But then something caught his eye-a garage a few paces away, door wide open. Inside was another car, almost identical to theirs, the same dull color, and worn-out look.

Marco climbed out too, curiosity winning over anger, and cautiously approached the parked car. As he leaned closer, the engine roared to life, headlights flashing with eerie brightness.

The car lurched forward, tires skidding as it sped toward him. Marco froze, legs heavy as dread washed over him.

"Marco!" Rayleigh yelled, diving forward to yank Marco out of the way just in time. They stumbled back, breathless and wild-eyed, as the empty car sped past them. It circled around, headlights now locked onto their own car, engine revving like a predator preparing to pounce.

"Get in!" Rayleigh shouted, scrambling back into the driver's seat. Marco followed, slamming the door as Rayleigh floored it. The haunted car stayed on their tail, every glance in the rearview mirror revealing the same empty driver's seat, the wheel turning as if by some invisible hand.

Rayleigh's fingers shook as he gripped the wheel tighter. The mirror seemed to twist and stretch, the headlights from behind warping into two hollow eyes, glaring back at him. He forced himself to look away, focusing on the road as they swerved and dodged, desperate to lose their pursuer.

Meanwhile, on the Other Path

On the opposite path, Arkie and Yanna parked outside a dilapidated cabin, the air thick with an unnatural chill. Yanna reached for her flashlight, illuminating the doorway. Her hand trembled slightly as she stepped forward, and then-

A blur of movement. The statue monster lurched into view, its grotesque face frozen in a snarl as it moved toward them.

"Flash it!" Yanna shouted, aiming the beam of light. The creature froze, limbs locked in an unnatural stance. Arkie didn't hesitate, grabbing a wrench from their car and swinging it with a force he didn't know he possessed. Piece by piece, the statue crumbled, until only a pile of dust remained.

"We're not safe here," Arkie muttered, breathing heavily. Yanna nodded, stepping into the cabin for supplies, and that's when she felt it-a sticky warmth wrapping around her ankle.

Looking down, she barely had time to scream as the cabin's floor split open, revealing the gaping maw of a monstrous flower. Petals stretched around her, fleshy and pulsing, slowly pulling her in.

"Arkie!" she screamed, flailing against the slimy grip.

Arkie sprinted over, flicking on his flashlight. The beam hit the flower, and to his horror, it began to smoke and sizzle. He kept the light steady, watching in terror as the plant writhed, burning in the flashlight's glow, until finally, it spat Yanna out onto the floor.

She gasped for air, covered in a sticky green liquid, shaking. "It almost... almost ate me."

Arkie's eyes fell on a scrap of paper near the plant's base. He picked it up, fingers trembling as he read the message scrawled in jagged, red ink: "Don't turn on the generator."

Back with Rayleigh and Marco

Their tires screeched to a halt, the rogue car finally losing ground as it crashed into a tree behind them. They could only watch as it shuddered, headlights flickering before dying out.

Rayleigh exhaled, adrenaline slowly ebbing. "I think... I think we're clear."

But as they looked around, their relief faded. Ahead, a solid wall loomed, topped with an electric fence and barbed wire. Six large electrical lines led from the fence to a control box on the side-clearly connected to a generator.

Their escape, blocked by a system designed to keep them trapped. The air grew thick with despair, as they both wondered the same thing:

How much worse would things get before they found a way out?