Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 62: North to Veilstone, The Mysterious Woods

"If there is one place in the Sinnoh Region with more legends, stories, and ghost sightings than Mount Coronet, it's Route 214. Legends told of an ancient cave in an old volcanic crater, off a pond, in a secret and misty woods. It was known as Sendoff Spring, the locals call it 'Sinnoh's secret fourth lake.' It was said that was where the souls of the dead passed through the veil into the next world. It was said Death itself lived within the ancient cave known as Turnback Cave. Wonder how it got that name...never did stick around long enough to find out. So, people wonder, is this place haunted? I don't even have an answer for that."

Sam, Jeremy, Niya and Alyssandra walked through the misty woods of Route 214.

Pikachu sat upon Niya's shoulder, chattering its teeth as they quietly crept through the dark woods.

The fog that pervaded this part of Route 214 was so thick they could barely see two feet in front of them.

At one point, Jeremy had kicked a rock into the fog and as the group walked deeper into the woods looking for it, they were horrified to find the rock had simply disappeared.

Niya discredited this seemingly supernatural experience to everything from a ricochet, to the fact it was any ordinary rock and likely disappeared among the other similar rocks and stones.

The others weren't so convinced.

To make matters worse, every few minutes a loud, screeching cry erupted from the forest, making every jump.

Once more it sounded, and Pikachu dashed from Niya's shoulder to hide in Alyssandra's shoulder bag.

"What the fuck is that?" whispered Jeremy, "Seriously it's been doing that all morning..."

"I don't know," shrugged Sam, "But if it wanted to attack us it would have by now."

"That's if it's even seen us," added Alyssandra quietly, "Let's not give it any incentive to find us."

"So, what," hissed Niya, "We're just not supposed to speak? Personally, I think you guys are just crazy. It's probably just some bird or something."

"What bird do you know that sounds like a demon?" Sam question right back, very pointedly.

"Ever met a sparrow?" smirked Niya.

"You're fucking nuts," Sam responded, watching Pikachu shiver from within Alyssandra's bag.

"Back at you," replied Niya.

"Guys, this is not the time to be at each other's throats—even jokingly," added Alyssandra, "We need to get out of these woods and out of this fog. I've never heard of this much fog on Route 214."

"Lyss is right," nodded Niya, "I've been down here before...It was never this foggy. Unless..."

"Unless?" asked Jeremy.

Niya smirked. "Unless we've somehow gone off course."

"Off course how?" Jeremy panicked, "How far off course??"

Niya's response was delayed by another shriek, then a rattling from the trees around the group. Then, wind blew gently, tousling the fog around them. Sam could see it swirl in patterns like a phantom.

A chill ran up Sam's spine, and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

"I don't like this..." whispered Sam, "Niya where do you think we are?"

"I was going to say..." started Niya, finally disturbed by how creepy everything was around her, "What if we're by Sendoff Spring?"

"Sendoff Spring? Isn't that where the souls of the dead go after they pass from this world?" asked Jeremy, his voice wavering.