Whispers in the Hollow

Into The Light

Dani's heart still raced as the car roared down the winding road, the forest shrinking into dark silhouettes behind them. She glanced at Mya, clutching her injured ankle, her face pale and drawn. Jayden, seated beside her in the back seat, was breathing heavily, his knuckles white against his thigh.

"Are you okay?" Dani asked, concern lacing her voice as she turned to Mya.

Mya nodded slowly, though the fear in her eyes betrayed her. "I-I think so. Just a little shaken... and my ankle hurts like crazy."

"It's going to be okay," Jayden said, shooting her a reassuring smile, even as he cast a wary glance outside. "We're safe now. At least for the moment."

The driver, a rugged man with a worn face, shifted in his seat, frowning as he kept his eyes on the road. "What on earth were you doing out there? You kids look like you've seen a ghost."

"Something like that," Dani replied. "We... we were being chased."

"Chased?" The man's brow furrowed. "By what?"

"By a guy named Marcus," Dani explained, her voice trembling. "He's not right. He... he has powers or something. We thought we were going to die out there."

The driver's eyes narrowed, and he cast a glance in the rearview mirror, as if expecting to see Marcus chasing them. "You're lucky I came along when I did. That forest is no place for anyone, especially not at night."

"What do you mean?" Mya asked, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

"Bad things happen out there," he stated flatly. "That forest has a reputation. People go in and don't come back out. Whatever your Marcus is, you can bet he's part of that darkness."

Dani felt a chill creep down her spine. "What do you mean? What kind of darkness?"

The man hesitated, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. "It's a long story. One that starts with tales of the past...of people who didn't know when to stop poking around where they shouldn't have."

Jayden interjected, his voice stronger now. "We need to get to town. Is there anyone in town who can help us? Someone who knows what's going on?"

"There's an old lady," the driver said, glancing momentarily at Jayden. "She's a bit eccentric, but they say she knows things. Knows how to protect against the darkness, too. You'll want to find her."

"Where do we find her?" Dani asked eagerly.

"She lives on the outskirts, near the old cemetery," the man replied. "Normally, I wouldn't recommend going there, but it sounds like you don't have much choice."

Mya groaned softly, her eyes fluttering closed. "Can't we just drive to safety?"

"The town's about a half hour away," the driver said as he accelerated. "But if Marcus is as relentless as you say, it's best we prepare for the worst as soon as we can."

Dani looked at Jayden, fear etching deep lines in her forehead. "What if he follows us? What if he's waiting for us in town?"

Jayden shook his head. "We can't think like that. We have to hope that getting to the old lady will help us. She might have the answers we need."

The driver's phone buzzed violently on the dashboard, pulling his attention for a moment. He snatched it up, glancing at the screen. "I need to check on something. Just hold tight, alright?"

No sooner had he said that when a loud crash echoed behind them, like thunder cracking through the night.

"What was that?" Dani gasped, her heart lurching.