Chapter Seven
Diana
I soon realized the village was a deserted one, there was nothing. I searched the whole place but all I saw was dust, no water, no food. My stomach growled in hunger. I wondered why could have turned a whole village empty? What could have turned a once-thriving village into this? My thoughts swirled, but my instincts told me one thing: I had to leave, Now.
I walked a bit, until the village gave way to the forest again. This time, it felt darker, more menacing. The trees loomed overhead, their twisted branches stretching toward me like skeletal fingers. The chill of the night bit into my skin, sinking deep into my bones.The unease that had been growing since I entered the village deepened with every step. It was as though the forest was alive, watching me, waiting for me to falter. I tightened my grip on my bag, my heart pounding harder with every crunch of my boots against the underbrush.
A rustling sound made me freeze. My heart thudded painfully as I strained my ears, listening. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there. The forest was too silent, too still, and that silence pressed against my chest like a vice.
When I finally moved again, the unease didn’t leave. The trees grew taller, their bark darker and knotted with strange patterns. The ground beneath my feet softened, the smell of damp earth mixed with something metallic. I glanced around, disoriented. Had I wandered into a different part of the forest, or was this... something else entirely?
I shook my head, trying to dispel the creeping dread. "Focus, Diana," I muttered under my breath, clutching the strap of my bag tighter. "You’ve come this far. Keep moving."
But as I stepped forward, the stillness shattered. A distant, guttural growl echoed through the trees, low and menacing. I froze, my heart slamming against my ribs. The sound wasn’t human—too deep, too primal. It sent a wave of icy fear coursing through me, and I instinctively reached for the small knife hidden in my bag. My hands trembled as I held it, the weight of the blade offering little comfort.
The growl came again, louder this time, and closer.
I didn’t wait to see what it was.
I turned and ran, my feet pounding against the forest floor. Branches whipped at my face and arms, tearing at my clothes as I pushed through the dense underbrush. My breath came in ragged gasps, but I didn’t dare slow down. The sound of heavy footsteps crashed behind me, accompanied by snarls that sent a fresh surge of terror through me.
Whatever was chasing me wasn’t just a wild animal. It felt... unnatural, otherworldly. And it was gaining on me.
Panic clawed at my chest as I stumbled over a root, nearly falling. I caught myself just in time, glancing over my shoulder. The shadows were alive with movement, a hulking figure darting between the trees. I couldn’t see it clearly, but the glow of its eyes—a sickly, unnatural yellow—burned in the darkness.
I pushed myself harder, ignoring the ache in my legs and the sting of the scratches on my skin. I didn’t know where I was going, but I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not with that thing behind me.
The trees seemed to close in around me, their twisted branches reaching out like claws. My chest burned, my lungs desperate for air, but the beast was relentless. Its snarls grew louder, its footsteps heavier, until I could almost feel its hot breath on the back of my neck.
"Run!" my mind screamed, and I obeyed.
I burst through the trees into a clearing, my boots skidding on the damp grass. The sudden openness disoriented me, and for a moment, I hesitated. But the growl behind me snapped me back into motion. I sprinted across the clearing, my eyes darting frantically for an escape. The forest loomed ahead, its dark embrace both a threat and a promise of cover.
But as I reached the edge, the ground beneath me shifted. The world seemed to tilt, and a strange, shimmering light surrounded me. I stumbled, falling to my knees as the air around me grew thick and heavy. A low hum filled my ears, and my vision blurred, the edges of the forest warping like a mirage.
"What the—" I gasped, but the words caught in my throat.
The beast roared behind me, and I turned just in time to see it lunge. Its massive form broke through the shimmering light, but something stopped it. The beast recoiled with a pained snarl, its body colliding with an invisible barrier. It clawed at the air, its yellow eyes burning with rage, but it couldn’t reach me.
I scrambled backward, my heart pounding as the shimmering light grew brighter. The beast let out one final, ear-piercing roar before vanishing into the shadows, leaving me alone in the clearing.
The air grew still again, and the hum faded. I stared at the space where the beast had been, my mind struggling to process what had just happened. My hands shook as I pushed myself to my feet, my legs weak and unsteady.
"What is this place?" I whispered, looking around.
The forest was different again. The trees were even taller now, their bark glowing faintly in the moonlight. The air was thick with a strange energy, and the ground beneath my feet felt alive, pulsing with a rhythm I couldn’t understand.
I swallowed hard, clutching the knife in my hand. I had crossed into another realm—I was sure of it. But how? And why?
Before I could dwell on the questions, a rustling sound behind me made me spin around. My grip on the knife tightened as I scanned the clearing, my heart racing. But instead of the beast, a figure stepped out of the shadows—a woman, tall and graceful, with piercing eyes that seemed to glow in the moonlight.
"You shouldn’t be here," she said, her voice calm but firm.
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. The woman’s gaze softened as she took a step closer, her movements deliberate and unthreatening.
"You’re lucky I found you," she continued, looking around like she was searching for something. "The beasts of this realm don’t take kindly to intruders."
I stared at her, my mind racing. She didn’t look like anyone from my world. Her features were sharp and ethereal, her presence commanding yet oddly comforting.
"Who are you?" I managed to ask, my voice trembling.
The woman tilted her head, studying me, curiosity written all over ger face. "Lila, it's you" she said in awe like she had found her lost puppy. "But first, let’s get you out of here. It’s not safe." She said trying to control her excitement
She extended a hand, but I hesitated, my grip on the knife tightening and in confusion as she called me lila.
"You don’t trust me," she said, her tone understanding. "That’s fair. But if I meant you harm, I wouldn’t have intervened and besides you're my relative"
Her words made sense except the part I was her relative, but I still couldn’t shake the unease in my chest. I looked around, the only thought it my head was the beast coming after me, I shuddered at the thought I could have died.
"Fine," I said finally, lowering the knife. "But I want answers and I am not lila"
The woman smiled faintly, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Answers will come," she said. "But for now, follow me."
She turned and began walking toward the end of the clearing, she moved elegantly but slightly fast, I walked behind her hesitant but had no choice though i stayed at alert.
As we entered the forest, the strange energy around was stronger than normal. Even the trees seemed to be glowing and the ground felt warm not in a bad way though. It felt like there were eyes all over the place watching me but she on the other hand acted all normal almost as if I was crazy for feeling these things.
"Where are we?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
The woman glanced back at me, her expression unreadable. "You’ve crossed into the Veil," she said. "A realm hidden between worlds."
Her words sent a shiver down my spine. The Veil. I had heard stories of such places, supernatural places that held things other than werewolves we always considered them a bed time story. But I had never believed they were real.
Until now.